What’s the De Minimis Tariff Loophole Trump Closed?: QuickTake

A Latin term that used to be little-known outside the world of customs brokers has become the stuff of headlines. That’s thanks to US President Donald Trump signing an executive order on April 2 to close a tariff loophole for “de minimis” merchandise from China and Hong Kong.

The phrase — which loosely translates as “too small to matter” — refers to small packages that are shipped directly to consumers from abroad, usually bypassing warehouses and distribution hubs. Qualifying as de minimis comes with a huge perk: no customs declarations and no tariffs. While each de minimis package is small, ...