Big news for Etsy and handmade sellers: the U.S. has officially suspended the $800 de minimis exemption on imports. This shift has already raised questions about how de minimis impacts handmade sellers across the world.

For years, this rule allowed low-value shipments into the U.S. without duties or taxes. That loophole is gone as of August 29, 2025 — and the ripple effects are already hitting sellers hard.

What Changed: How De Minimis Impacts Handmade Sellers

Before, if you ordered materials or tools from overseas under $800, they entered the U.S. duty-free. Now, every shipment—no matter the value—is subject to tariffs, duties, and processing fees.

Both U.S. sellers importing supplies and non-U.S. sellers shipping to American buyers are caught in the crossfire.

To bring you up to speed, here’s a quick timeline of the major tariff updates since the US-coined, “Liberation Day.”

U.S. Sellers: How De Minimis Impacts Supply Costs

If your business depends on international suppliers for fabric, beads, charms, packaging, or other materials, get ready to pay more.

Every shipment now comes with a base duty, set by the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The percentage varies depending on what you’re importing—cotton fabric, brass clasps, glass beads, or packaging all fall into different brackets.

On top of that, some regions face extra charges. Shipments from China, Hong Kong, and Macau are hit with an additional 10% tariff, while imports from the European Union are bumped up to a minimum of 15%. Other countries carry similar “reciprocal” tariffs that stack on top of the base duty.

Then there are the standard processing fees:

• Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF): 0.3464% of the shipment’s value, with a minimum charge of about $33.
• Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF): 0.125% on ocean shipments.

Put together, these changes add up quickly. A $200 order of materials that used to arrive duty-free might now set you back $230–$260 once duties and fees are factored in. Larger supply runs will see even bigger jumps.

Non-U.S. Sellers: How De Minimis Impacts Shipping to the U.S.

If you’re an international Etsy seller, the U.S. market just became more complicated. Every parcel headed stateside now carries a duty, and how it’s applied depends on whether you use your postal service or a courier like UPS, FedEx, or DHL.

For postal shipments, duties must be collected before the package leaves your country. To simplify things (temporarily), the U.S. introduced a flat-fee system that runs through February 2026:

• $80 per item if your country’s tariff rate is under 16%
• $160 per item if it falls between 16–25%
• $200 per item if it’s above 25%

After February 28, 2026, the flat-fee option disappears and everything shifts to percentage-based tariffs.

For courier shipments, there’s no grace period. Packages are charged the full tariff rate plus any reciprocal country duties and the standard U.S. user fees at entry.

The result? Sticker shock for buyers. A handmade necklace that sells for $50 abroad could now arrive in the U.S. with another $80–$200 in duties added before delivery.

Estimate Your New Tariffs and Fees

Use this calculator to see how much the end of the de minimis rule could add to your costs. Enter your shipment value, origin country, and duty rate to estimate total duties, fees, and landed cost. If you’re outside the U.S., try the postal flat-fee calculator to see what your buyers might pay through February 2026.

Countries Suspending Shipments: How De Minimis Impacts Global Trade

The rollout hasn’t just raised costs—it’s also created confusion across global postal networks. Many carriers simply aren’t ready to handle duty collection on small parcels, so instead of risking mistakes, they’ve paused U.S. deliveries altogether.

Hover over your country to see how the de minimis suspension impacts your handmade business.

Australia Post was among the first to act, suspending most parcel services to the U.S. (letters, documents, and gifts under $100 are still allowed). In Europe, postal services in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the U.K., Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, and Slovenia have announced similar suspensions. Even major carriers like DHL Germany have pulled back, pausing business parcel shipments into the U.S.

It’s not just Europe and Australia. Postal operators in Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, India, and Switzerland have also temporarily stopped or reduced their U.S. service.

Here’s the full list so far:

• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Denmark
• France
• Germany
• India
• Italy
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Singapore
• Slovenia
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Thailand
• United Kingdom

All told, more than 20 countries have either halted shipments to American buyers or scaled back what they’ll accept. For handmade sellers, that means delays, service interruptions, and in some cases, an outright freeze on access to the U.S. market until systems catch up.

What Handmade Sellers Should Do Next

This is one of the most significant changes to international eCommerce in years. Handmade sellers need to adapt quickly to protect their margins and keep customers happy.

Step 1: Audit Your Supply Chain

Start by mapping out where your supplies come from. If you’re importing beads, fabrics, charms, or packaging from abroad, calculate how new tariffs and fees affect your real landed costs. What used to be the cheapest option may no longer make sense once duties are stacked on.

• Review recent orders from international suppliers.
• Estimate the new costs under current tariff rates.
• Identify which products in your shop depend most heavily on imports.

Step 2: Compare Domestic Alternatives

Now is the time to revisit local sourcing. U.S.-based suppliers that seemed too pricey before may actually be competitive once you add up international duties, shipping costs, and delays.

• Domestic suppliers can reduce risks of late shipments.
• Local sourcing often means faster restocks, which is critical during peak seasons.

Step 3: Communicate With Buyers

If you’re outside the U.S., set expectations early. Buyers don’t like surprises, and being upfront about possible duties or slower delivery times can save you from bad reviews.

• Add clear notes to your Etsy listings about shipping changes.
• Use shop announcements or automated messages to explain delays or fees.
• Remind customers that transparency is part of your brand’s integrity.

Step 4: Diversify Your Markets

Don’t put all your eggs in the U.S. basket. If American orders become unpredictable, shift some focus to local buyers or regional marketplaces. You’ll reduce risk and keep revenue flowing even when U.S. policies are in flux.

• Expand into other marketplaces alongside Etsy.
• Run targeted ads or SEO campaigns for buyers closer to home.
• Build a loyal regional base that balances international uncertainty.

The Bottom Line: How De Minimis Impacts Handmade Sellers Going Forward

The suspension of the de minimis rule marks the end of cheap, duty-free imports into the U.S.—and underscores how de minimis impacts handmade sellers in every corner of the marketplace.

For handmade sellers, it means higher supply costs, more shipping complications, and new uncertainty around international sales.

It’s a shake-up that nobody in the handmade community asked for—but staying nimble, informed, and proactive will help your shop adapt before the holiday season rush begins.