Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump administration ends de minimis tariff exemption for all countries — The Trump administration ended the longstanding de minimis tariff exemption on Friday, August 29, 2025, eliminating duty-free entry for packages valued under $800. The exemption, established in the Tariff Act of 1930 and raised to $800 in 2015, had covered approximately 1.36 billion shipments annually. The White House cited protection of American manufacturers and national security concerns, claiming bad actors use the exemption to smuggle drugs. The change is expected to cost consumers up to $13 billion and disproportionately affect lower-income Americans and small overseas businesses.
• International postal service to U.S. collapsed due to tariff policy — Postal traffic into the United States plunged by more than 80% after the Trump administration ended a tariff exemption for low-cost imports. Eighty-eight postal operators told the United Postal Union they suspended some or all postal service to the U.S. until a solution is implemented regarding U.S.-bound parcels valued at $800 or less. The UPU reported that global postal traffic to the U.S. fell 81% on August 29, 2025, compared with a week earlier, affecting nearly all 192 member countries.
• Trump administration imposed tariffs on previously exempt international packages — Multiple international shipping companies announced they will refuse to deliver packages to the United States once a new Trump administration policy takes effect on August 29, imposing tariffs on packages valued at $800, which have always been exempt from tariffs. The Atlantic's David Frum noted that "DHL is suspending commercial package deliveries to US because of Trump tariffs. It's as if the US were imposing punitive trade sanctions on itself."

Supporting reports

• Trump threatens tariffs and export restrictions on countries with digital services taxes — President Trump issued a threat via Truth Social to impose substantial tariffs and export restrictions on countries whose taxes, legislation, or regulations target US technology companies. The threat specifically targets the UK's digital services tax (raising £800m annually at 2% on tech revenues) and EU member states including France, Italy, and Spain with similar measures. Trump claimed such taxes "discriminate" against American tech firms while giving "a complete pass to China." He stated: "Unless these discriminatory actions are removed, I will impose substantial additional tariffs on that country's exports to the USA, and institute export restrictions on our highly protected technology and chips."