Host: Annik Sobing
Guest: Marianne Rowden (CEO & Director, E-Merchents Trade Council)
Published: September 8, 2025
Length: ~42 minutes
Presented by: Global Training Center
🌍 Life After De Minimis: What E-Commerce Importers Need to Know
In this week’s Simply Trade Roundup, host Annik Sobing welcomes back Marianne Rowden, CEO of the E-Merchants Trade Council, for an in-depth discussion on the fast-moving crisis following the end of de minimis entry benefits on August 29.
Marianne breaks down what the loss of de minimis really means for importers, e-commerce sellers, and global supply chains — from skyrocketing compliance costs to postal suspensions and the new wave of IEEPA tariffs. She explains why this shift is far more than a duty issue, and how small businesses are now being forced into a maze of tariffs, complex customs filings, and compliance risks that could reshape the entire e-commerce landscape.
🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
📦 The De Minimis Exit – Why this long-standing provision was critical for e-commerce and why its end is creating shockwaves.
💰 Tariffs on Tariffs – How overlapping IEEPA tariffs stack up, raising effective duty rates beyond 50% for some countries.
📮 Postal Suspensions – Why more than 30 countries have halted shipments to the U.S., and what carriers are doing to adapt.
🏬 Business Model Pivots – The rise of B2B2C structures, bonded warehouses, and changes in Incoterms — and why many of these “quick fixes” may not work.
⚖️ Compliance Pitfalls – First Sale, transfer pricing, and tariff engineering — which are legitimate tools and which could get you into serious trouble.
🚨 New Enforcement Landscape – How DOJ’s expanded trade fraud task force changes the risk equation for importers and e-sellers.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
De minimis was about simplified compliance as much as it was about duty savings.
The removal forces importers into a high-tariff, high-complexity environment.
Quick fixes like transfer pricing or misused Incoterms can backfire — small importers must tread carefully.
Postal systems weren’t ready — the six-month “tiered duty” workaround is only temporary.
DOJ’s involvement means trade fraud enforcement will be broader and harsher than ever.
📌 Resources & Mentions:
E-Merchants Trade Council
White House Fact Sheet: Executive Order Eliminating De Minimis for China and Hong Kong
FlavorCloud: The End of the U.S. $800 De Minimis Rule — What It Means for Consumers
AInvest: De Minimis Exemption Reshaping Commerce, Retail Margins, and Supply Chain Risks
CBP FAQ on IEEPA Reciprocal Tariffs
CRS: Court Challenges to IEEPA Tariffs
Credits
Host: Annik Sobing - LinkedIn
Guest: Marianne Rowden - LinkedIn
Producer: Lalo Solorzano - LinkedIn
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Presented by: Global Training Center — providing education, consulting, workshops, and compliance resources for trade professionals. 👉 www.GlobalTrainingCenter.com
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