Digital platforms have made it easier for businesses to reach international customers. Businesses of every size can now reach consumers beyond their domestic markets and around the world. ECDB forecasts that global cross-border e-commerce revenues will reach US$1.2 trillion by 2026, extending access well beyond large enterprises. But this access to international customers doesn't guarantee success in serving them. Fulfilling a cross-border order involves considerably more than just completing the sale. For any business in the global market, the decisive factor may be the infrastructure that operates after the transaction is complete.
For years, the United States De Minimis Framework has shaped the way businesses of all levels qualify imports. From 2016 onward, US customs rules have allowed shipments valued under US$800 to enter the country duty- and tax-free under a simplified clearance process, a provision known as the de minimis exemption. But since August 29, 2025, all shipments into the US are subject to duties, taxes, and customs entry, no matter their value or origin. For a small or medium seller, this may expand the process and the price.
