Description

Host: Cindy Allen
Published: August 29, 2025
Length: ~15 minutes
Presented by: Global Training Center

💡 The End of De Minimis: A Breakup That Changes Trade Forever

This week, Cindy Allen — the Taylor Swift of Trade — takes inspiration from We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together to mark the official end of de minimis. For over a decade, Cindy lived and breathed this program while at DHL and FedEx, but as of August 29, 2025, de minimis is gone — and the trade world is already feeling the ripple effects.

From India’s new 50% tariffs to recession warnings from top economists, Cindy explains why small businesses, warehouses, and e-commerce platforms may be heading into a whole new era of compliance, cost control, and consumer pricing.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• India’s reciprocal tariffs jump to 50% tied to Russian oil sourcing

• Why leading economists are warning that tariffs could trigger a U.S. recession

• The rise and fall of de minimis — from a 1930s travel perk to $800 duty-free imports

• How small businesses leveraged de minimis to grow — and why its end may reshape competition

• The shift toward Foreign Trade Zones, bonded warehouses, and U.S. fulfillment strategies

• What “for sale” structuring and B2B2C transactions mean for compliance

• Why CBP wants consumer-level data and how the loss of Type 86 impacts targeting

• The uncertain path forward: industry groups pressing CBP for new guidance

Key Takeaways:

• De minimis allowed 1.4 billion shipments annually — its removal is reshaping e-commerce and compliance.

• Some companies are raising prices, others are exiting the U.S. market entirely.

• Warehousing demand in the U.S. is surging as companies front-load and consolidate shipments.

• CBP faces new challenges as critical consumer-level data disappears.

• Industry is waiting for CBP guidance to bring predictability to the new landscape.

Resources & Mentions:

• Federal Register – Section 232 & Reciprocal Tariffs Notices
• Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, University of Michigan Economic Analysis
• Mark Zandi – Moody’s Analytics Chief Economist
• NCBFAA – National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America
• COAC – Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee
• TFTEA – Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (2016/2017)

Credits

Hosts:

• Cindy Allen – LinkedIn

• Trade Force Multiplier 

Producer:

• Lalo Solorzano - LinkedIn

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Presented by: Global Training Center — providing education, consulting, workshops, and compliance resources for trade professionals.
👉 www.GlobalTrainingCenter.com

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