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Importing vintage bales into the US after de minimis

Updated

For years, a reseller could order a bale from overseas and, if it was valued at $800 or less, it came in without duty under de minimis. That's over. Here's what changed and what it means for your cost per piece.

This is general information, not customs advice. Rules and rates change; check with a licensed customs broker before you import.

What changed

  • August 29, 2025: the US suspended duty-free de minimis treatment for shipments from every country (CBP, White House).
  • July 1, 2027: a law passed in 2025 repeals de minimis permanently.

Wholesale platforms that ship from overseas now warn about it. Fleek's homepage tells US buyers that "new tariffs may apply" (Fleek).

How used clothing is classified

Worn clothing usually comes in under HTS heading 6309, which is duty-free. The catch is "worn". A Court of International Trade case found that when a bale mixes in garments that aren't appreciably worn, CBP can charge the whole bale at the highest rate among the pieces sampled, which was 28.6% in that case (ST&R). Deadstock and like-new pieces are exactly what resellers want in a bale, and exactly what can push it out of 6309.

On top of that, country-specific tariffs can apply depending on where the bale ships from.

Budget for the landed cost

Before comparing an overseas bale with a domestic one, add up:

  1. The bale price.
  2. International shipping.
  3. Any duty, including the risk of a higher rate if the bale mixes in unworn pieces.
  4. Broker or clearance fees, if you're not using a platform that handles them.
  5. The wait. Fleek, for example, quotes 10–14 working days to ship (Fleek). That's two weeks you're not listing.

Then divide by the pieces you'll actually sell.

Or buy domestic

A lot that ships from a US seller to a US buyer never crosses a border. No duty, no broker, no customs hold.

Every seller on Stockhouse is a US business, so every lot ships domestically and tracked. Stockhouse is opening to founding buyers and sellers across the US. Stockhouse vs Fleek goes through the difference in detail.

Questions

Is de minimis still available for clothing imports into the US?
No. Duty-free de minimis treatment, which used to let shipments worth $800 or less in without duty, has been suspended for all countries since August 29, 2025. A 2025 law repeals it permanently from July 1, 2027.
Do used clothing bales pay import duty in the US?
Worn clothing normally enters under HTS 6309, which is duty-free. But a Court of International Trade case found that bales mixing in garments that aren't appreciably worn can be charged at the highest rate among the pieces sampled, 28.6% in that case. Tariffs on the country of origin can also apply. Check with a customs broker.
How can I avoid import duties on vintage bales?
Buy from US suppliers. A lot that ships from a US warehouse to a US address never clears customs, so there's no import duty, broker or wait at the border.
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