Freight Brokers on what changes to US de minimis rates mean for Walpole members

For nearly a century, British luxury brands exporting to the United States have benefitted from a ‘de minimis’ rule, which allowed shipments under $800 to pass through customs without being subject to import fees. Following a new Executive Order from President Trump, however, this policy ended on Friday 29th August. With around four million de minimis packages being processed by US customs per day, the impact of this change is substantial.

Brands selling to the US market face new clearance realities, extra paperwork and sudden service withdrawals. Some carriers have already limited their American options while others are raising rates or extending lead times. This uncertainty risks compromising the exceptional custmer service integral to – and indeed expected from – British luxury brands. The implementation of such changes threatens to reduce US business in the short term and, in the long term, undermine the favourable reputation enjoyed by British luxury brands both in the US and further afield. 

Backed by 20 years of experience in worldwide shipping, Walpole Partner Freight Brokers is providing a clear, proven, two-pronged solution designed specifically for our community. It aims to keep parcels moving, Service Level Agreements (SLAs) intact, and costs under control.

Freight Brokers’ new British Airways Partnership, which offers a highly reliable cost-effective route for UK luxury brands using the national carrier’s transatlantic flights. Most door-to-door deliveries will take approximately three days, secured at the destination with triple proof of delivery through GPS tracking, photo and signature, with extremely competitive pricing.

The courier's second option utilises UPS Express service at a rate 30% lower than brands would receive when working directly with UPS. This service takes one to two day – ideal for time-critical shipments. This premium service level, achieved at an exclusive lower rate, is achieved by Freight Brokers negotiating on behalf of a collective of more than 350 high-end fashion and retail clients. 

Both options are wrapped in Freight Brokers’ Courier Concierge: an expert, human-powered support desk that is available around the clock, year-round with 30-minute response times. So brands do not have to deal with 'ticket limbo' or bots – just rapid resolutions from people who know luxury logistics inside out.

When new restrictions are imposed, the worst thing you can do is pause your US business," advises Louis Kurlander, Freight Brokers' Director. "We’ve built a simple, powerful, two-way fallback: the BA Partnership for dependable three-day moves with belt-and-braces POD, and UPS Express for when you need your parcel there yesterday, at a price that won’t make your Financial Director wince.

We have produced a short briefing about the impact of these changes, which you can read here, and please keep Walpole informed about the impact on your business. We met DBT officials on Thursday to discuss this issue and will continue to raise this issue with Government.

Freight Brokers can onboard Walpole members immediately onto one or both tracks (British Airways and UPS Express). Duty and tax flows will be mapped and your Stateside customers were be kept happy and spending. For more details about Freight Brokers’ offer, Walpole members should contact [email protected].

To learn more about the changes to the US' de minimis rate, you can read Walpole's briefing paper below and access the Department for Business and Trade's dedicated webpage.