Ask ten importers who the Importer of Record is on a shipment, and you’ll likely get ten different answers. That confusion isn’t harmless. In 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will enforce importer accountability more aggressively than ever. When roles like Importer of Record (IOR), consignee, and owner are [...]
For many U.S. importers, especially e-commerce brands and SMBs, the biggest surprise isn’t customs delays or paperwork. It’s cost. A product that looks profitable on paper can quickly lose margin once duties, freight, brokerage, and compliance add-ons are factored in. In 2025, with the end of De Minimis and tighter [...]
The end of the De Minimis era has changed everything for U.S. importers. What used to be a simple process, ship a parcel through a courier, let the carrier auto-clear it, and skip formal documentation, no longer exists. In 2025, every shipment must meet full U.S. customs compliance standards, no [...]
For years, U.S. e-commerce brands and marketplace sellers thrived on direct-to-consumer (DTC) parcel shipping. The model worked because Section 321 exemptions, low-value thresholds, and courier-driven clearances allowed products to ship directly from overseas suppliers to American customers with almost no friction. But in 2025, this model will become structurally unsustainable. [...]
