Bluemenauer Introduces Legislation to Restrict De Minimis

House Ways and Means Subcommittee Chairman Earl Blumenauer is introducing "The Import Security and Fairness Act," which would add some restrictions around the $800 de minimis level. Under the bill, goods from countries that are both non-market economies and on the U.S. Trade Representative's intellectual property watch list wouldn't be eligible for de minimis provisions. Currently, the only country that is both a non-market economy and labeled as an IP violator is China. Blumenauer has said that 83% of de minimis packages come from China.

The bill also wouldn't allow goods subject to Section 301 tariffs or Section 232 tariffs to qualify for de minimis. It would also prohibit de minimis shipments from foreign warehouses and require CBP to collect more information on de minimis shipments.