Leaders of Finance Committee Tell USTR de Minimis Should Stay at $800

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and ranking member Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., have said in a letter to the U.S. trade representative that lowering de minimis in the implementing legislation for the new NAFTA is unwelcome. "We strongly oppose any change to existing law that would authorize the Administration to lower the current U.S. de minimis threshold to make it reciprocal with its trading partners," they wrote Feb. 27. "While we are deeply disappointed that both Canada and Mexico were unwilling to raise their de minimis thresholds for express shipments to match the U.S. $800 de minimis level, lowering the U.S. threshold in response is contrary to well-demonstrated Congressional intent."