De Minimis
What Is De Minimis?
De minimis is the value threshold below which imported parcels enter duty-free. It is a customs rule: below the threshold, the shipment clears without duty or tax; above it, the full value is dutiable.
The threshold varies widely by country. Some markets set it high enough to allow small-parcel online retail; others set it at or near zero, which means courier and postal parcels are dutiable from the first dollar of value, with duty and tax collected before delivery.
For online sellers this directly decides the model. Where the threshold is generous, small-parcel dropshipping works; where it is near zero, the viable model is bulk import into a local warehouse, then local delivery.
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