Kate Muth, Executive Director at IMAG, and Ellen McClain, Special Advisor to International Bridge and former deputy assistant secretary at Homeland Security, discuss reform of de minimis arrangements in the USA and Canada.

• Future Borders Coalition report on low value shipments
• History of de minimis in the USA
• Purpose and current rules for de minimis shipments
• Inbound de minimis volumes
• Concerns about illegal and illicit goods being imported using de minimis
• Benefits to consumers and some online sellers
• Weaknesses in the current de minimis system
• Areas that require reform, including poor data
• Collecting better advance data on cross-border shipments
• Using technology for pre-screening of goods prior to shipment
• Pre-clearance of goods
• Laws on fulfilling orders cross-border and eligibility for de minimis
• Would harmonisation on European regulations assist?
• Treatment of postal items vs courier items
• Missing data elements on cross-border shipments
• Difficulties in determining country of origin
• Compliance tools