On July 9, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published a bulletin via its Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) providing updated guidance for shipments imported into the United States by mail.

On June 24, 2026, CBP published an interim final rule in the Federal Register announcing an indefinite suspension of the de minimis exemption for "imports valued at $800 or less arriving [to the U.S.] through the international postal network." The rule also established a new postal informal entry process for eligible mail shipments.

According to the CSMS bulletin, international mail shipments valued at $800 or less that were previously eligible for de minimis treatment will now require entry through the new postal informal entry process. Guidance for this process is linked in the bulletin, and provides requirements for eligible parties, data elements, bonding, and payment of duties.

The interim final rule and new entry process for informal postal entries become effective on July 24, 2026.

The CSMS bulletin can be found here:
https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-41fa7f0?wgt_ref=USDHSCBP_WIDGET_2 

The interim final rule can be found here:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/24/2026-12669/indefinite-suspension-of-the-de-minimis-exemption-for-mail-shipments-and-new-postal-informal-entry 

The guidance document can be found here:
https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/USDHSCBP/2026/07/08/file_attachments/3708650/Updated%20Global%20Guidance%20for%20International%20Mail-7.7.26.pdf