Policies, yes, and a fifty year history marked by a trail of agreements and compromises in which American textile and garment industries have been traded away by Congress, complex arrangements likely to never be sorted out.
De minimus is commonplace worldwide, with various caps.
UK for example, pre Brexit, had absolute deminimus up to about £15 including shipment, over that 20% VAT was payable (plus a £12 fee if not prepaid by carrier), with any duty kicking in at £135 on top. Printed papers generally exempt (books/mags/newspapers, even if secondhand). And intra-EU the seller had to charge VAT (sometimes source country rate, sometimes destination).
Post Brexit, it's now VAT chargeable from £0.01 up for all countries (plus fees if not prepaid..ebay/amazon accommodate that automatically now worldwide to avoid the fees), with duty from £135 as before. Printed papers still exempt but eBay, Amazon incorrectly charge VAT very often :-(.
EU country deminimus varies surprisingly for goods entering from outside EU.
Wouldn't it be even better to scrap all trade barriers though?
Policies, yes, and a fifty year history marked by a trail of agreements and compromises in which American textile and garment industries have been traded away by Congress, complex arrangements likely to never be sorted out.
De minimus is commonplace worldwide, with various caps.
UK for example, pre Brexit, had absolute deminimus up to about £15 including shipment, over that 20% VAT was payable (plus a £12 fee if not prepaid by carrier), with any duty kicking in at £135 on top. Printed papers generally exempt (books/mags/newspapers, even if secondhand). And intra-EU the seller had to charge VAT (sometimes source country rate, sometimes destination).
Post Brexit, it's now VAT chargeable from £0.01 up for all countries (plus fees if not prepaid..ebay/amazon accommodate that automatically now worldwide to avoid the fees), with duty from £135 as before. Printed papers still exempt but eBay, Amazon incorrectly charge VAT very often :-(.
EU country deminimus varies surprisingly for goods entering from outside EU.