For a package from China to the United States, the $800 value alone no longer tells you whether the shipment can move without customs entry work. The U.S. has suspended the duty-free de minimis exemption for covered imports, and CBP now has separate rules for mail moving through the international postal network and for shipments arriving by other modes. The distinction can affect what the seller or carrier must submit, whether it asks for more information, and why tracking may pause around arrival in the United States.

As of July 30, 2026, the practical first step is to identify the service named in the order details or tracking record. A China Post-type postal shipment and a commercial courier or consolidated e-commerce shipment are not handled under the same CBP rule. Use CNUSUP's package tracking page to follow the shipment, but rely on the seller, named carrier, or CBP for customs documents and payment instructions.

What changed for low-value China packages#

Executive Order 14388 continued the suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment for covered shipments regardless of value, country of origin, transport mode, or entry method. It also says that international postal shipments are dutiable under the order's postal provisions, while other covered shipments are subject to applicable duties, taxes, fees, and charges. The order's changes took effect on February 24, 2026. Read the executive order for the legal scope and exclusions.

This is not a rule that turns every China-to-US order into the same customs case. Product classification, origin, declared value, carrier, and any other applicable restrictions still matter. Do not use this guide to calculate duty or to decide whether an item is admissible. The checkout total, carrier notice, or an official CBP contact is the appropriate source for a shipment-specific question.

First, tell postal mail from a commercial shipment#

The route matters more than a tracking prefix by itself. Look at the shipping method in your order details, the carrier identified after export, and any message from the merchant. A seller may use a postal operator for one order and a commercial carrier, consolidator, or e-commerce logistics service for another.

CBP's postal rule applies to merchandise arriving through the international postal network. Its interim final rule indefinitely suspends the de minimis administrative exemption for imports valued at $800 or less arriving by that network and creates a postal informal-entry process for certain mail shipments. The rule became effective July 24, 2026, apart from one earlier regulatory instruction. See the postal-rule notice and effective date.

For packages that do not arrive through the international postal network, CBP's separate interim rule says that entries of merchandise valued at $800 or less must use formal or informal entry procedures. That rule was effective June 24, 2026. CBP's non-postal rule is the relevant source for courier, air-cargo, and other non-postal flows.

What you may see in tracking#

The rules do not create a single consumer-facing tracking status. A status such as arrival in the destination country, customs processing, clearance in progress, or a handoff to a local carrier can appear on many routes for many reasons. It is reasonable to treat a new customs-related pause as a prompt to check for a carrier or seller message, not as proof that a package is lost, assessed a particular duty, or being held for a violation.

For a CAINIAO-linked order, tracking can also move between the seller's logistics network, line-haul partners, customs processing, and a U.S. last-mile carrier. Our CAINIAO tracking guide explains why a local tracking number or a different carrier name may appear later in the trip. Keep the original order confirmation and any later tracking identifiers together; they help the seller or carrier locate the same shipment if the reference changes.

What to prepare before and after arrival#

The recipient usually cannot file a commercial or postal entry just by replying to a generic tracking page. The merchant, postal operator, carrier, or its customs representative may already be the party submitting the entry data. Still, keeping accurate records helps you respond quickly when a legitimate request arrives.

• Before shipment, save the order confirmation, item description, quantity, seller name, payment record, shipping method, and every tracking number provided.
• When tracking first shows U.S. arrival or customs processing, check the merchant account and the named carrier's official site for a request. Do not send documents or payment to a link from an unexpected message.
• If a carrier asks for product or value details, answer with the actual order information. Do not ask a seller to understate value or misdescribe goods.
• If the package changes to a local carrier, track it there as well as with the original identifier. For an explanation of common handoffs, see how CAINIAO global shipment tracking works.
• If no carrier request is visible and the status remains unchanged, contact the seller first with the order number and tracking history. The seller can confirm the service it purchased and escalate to its logistics provider.

When to contact the seller, carrier, or CBP#

Contact the seller when the service name is unclear, a document request lacks enough detail, or no carrier has accepted responsibility for the shipment. Contact the carrier or postal operator when its own official tracking page asks for information, payment, or pickup action. Use the identity and contact details shown through the order platform or the carrier's official website, rather than numbers or payment links sent in an unsolicited text.

For a case-specific customs classification, duty, restricted-goods, or admissibility question, consult CBP or a qualified customs professional. CNUSUP can help you read shipment progress, but it cannot decide a customs outcome. For broader preparation steps that remain relevant across destinations, review our international customs-clearance guide.

Sources#

• Continuing the Suspension of Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries, The White House, February 20, 2026.
• Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments and New Postal Informal Entry Process, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, June 24, 2026.
• Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Merchandise Arriving Through All Modes Other Than the International Postal Network, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, June 24, 2026.