The world of logistics is constantly changing, making it extremely difficult for companies to stay up-to-date with the latest information. In the past 30 days alone, changes in regulations have been implemented and amended countless times, creating confusion and uncertainty with what requirements are needed for international shipments entering the United States. Currently, the Section 321 de minimis program is still in effect but as we’ve seen in recent times, things can change in a moment’s notice. So, with this in mind, here’s what you should know if the Section 321 program is suspended.
SSN or EIN Needed
If Section 321 is no longer available, goods going to the U.S. will require an importer on record. The importer on record is required to provide their Social Security Number (SSN) or Employers Identification Number (EIN). In other words, if you are a consumer in the U.S. and you buy products from a business internationally, you will need to provide your SSN or EIN to clear the shipment. Currently, with Section 321 instated, consumers or importers do not need to provide these details.
Exceptions made for International Postal Services
To avoid providing these personal details, companies can ship their products with international postal services, such as Canada Post, Royal Mail, etc., as opposed to courier services (eg. UPS and FedEx), which will require the recipient’s identification number in advance. According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, “goods sent through the international postal service that are under $2500 in value generally do not require an importer number to be cleared through CBP.”
Further Updates
At ShipTop, we will continue to update you on all the ongoing changes in the world of cross-border logistics. As it stands today, we are still sending U.S.-bound shipments valued $800 USD or less through Section 321 seamlessly. However, we are staying alert and ready to adapt to any further changes if needs be.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss how ShipTop can help your business navigate shipping to the U.S., please email us at [email protected]
