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Ref. :EIC 111/3
EIC 111/3/13
23 February 2026
(Last updated on 10 April 2026)
Dear Sirs,
Further to Commercial Information Circular (CIC) No. 665/2025 dated 1 August 2025 on the US’ suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment for low-value shipments globally with effect from 29 August 2025, the US President on 20 February 2026 signed an executive order announcing the continuation of the suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment for low-value shipments globally and the revised duty rate for international postal shipments effective from 24 February 2026.
2.On 2 April 2025, the US President signed an executive order announcing that duty-free de minimis treatment shall no longer be available for products of China (which include products of Hong Kong) on 2 May 2025 and such imported merchandise shall be subject to additional duties, with subsequent modifications. On 30 July 2025, the US President signed Executive Order 14324 suspending duty-free de minimis treatment for low-value shipments globally effective from 29 August 2025 and announcing duty rates for international postal shipments, with provisions superseding previous executive orders with respect to the assessment of duties as applied to low-value products from China (including Hong Kong): (i) imported goods sent through means other than the international postal network that are valued at or under US$800 and that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption will be subject to all applicable duties, taxes, fees, exactions, and charges; and (ii) for covered goods shipped through the international postal system, packages would instead be assessed duties according to either ad valorem duty or specific duty methodology. The specific duty methodology would be available for six months. After such time, effective from 28 February 2026, all applicable shipments must comply with the ad valorem duty methodology.
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3.On 20 February 2026, the US President signed an executive order announcing the continuation of the suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment for low-value shipments globally and the revised duty rate for international postal shipments. A duty equal to the rate provided in the Proclamation of 20 February 2026 titled “Imposing a Temporary Import Surcharge to Address Fundamental International Payments Problems” shall be assessed on the value of each dutiable postal item containing goods entered for consumption. This duty rate shall be assessed until the expiration date of the temporary import surcharge established by the Proclamation of 20 February 2026, or until the effective date of the new entry process for postal shipments established by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), whichever date occurs first. Shipments sent through the international postal network that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption shall pass free of any duties except those specified above. For details of the Proclamation, please refer to CIC No. 185/2026. On the other hand, all relevant shipments except those sent through the international postal network shall be subject to all applicable duties, taxes, fees, exactions, and charges.
4.The modifications to Executive Order 14324 in this order shall be effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on 24 February 2026. Additionally, the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States shall be modified as provided in the Annex to this order.
5.For further details, please refer to the US President’s executive order, the White House’s fact sheet, the US CBP’s message and the Federal Register (FR) notice:
The US President’s executive order (20 February 2026)
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/02/continuing-the-suspension-of-duty-free-de-minimis-treatment-for-all-countries/
White House’s fact sheet (20 February 2026)
https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/02/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-imposes-a-temporary-import-duty-to-address-fundamental-international-payment-problems/
US CBP’s Cargo Systems Messaging Service Message - Continuing the Suspension of Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries
https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-40b3d6e?wgt_ref=USDHSCBP_WIDGET_2
FR notice
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-04-09/pdf/R1-2026-03829.pdf
6.For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact us at telephone number 2398 5405.
Yours faithfully,
(Miss Kwany KOU)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry
Note: While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.