Today marks the launch of the Coalition to Close the De Minimis Loophole, a diverse alliance spanning from families affected by fentanyl tragedies to labor unions and law enforcement agencies. The Coalition's primary aim is to address a significant gap in federal law known as Section 321, allowing tax-free and uninspected entry of packages valued under $800 into the United States. This loophole, exploited primarily by China, has dire consequences, including the proliferation of illicit drugs like fentanyl, exacerbating the ongoing public health crisis.
Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Neal Dunn (R-FL) spearhead efforts in Congress to rectify this issue, advocating for bipartisan legislation such as the Import Security and Fairness Act. This legislation seeks to prevent non-market economies, notably China, from abusing the de minimis threshold. Additionally, it mandates stricter information collection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to tackle abuse effectively.
The Coalition emphasizes the urgent need for awareness and action, given that nearly three million uninspected packages enter the U.S. daily, with 60 per cent originating from China. This influx poses multifaceted risks, from counterfeit goods to the rampant spread of fentanyl, which claimed over 70,000 lives in the past year alone.
The consequences extend beyond public health to economic devastation, with ten textile plants shuttered and hundreds left unemployed due in part to the influx of low-priced imports containing cotton produced through forced labor.
Voices from impacted communities echo the urgency for reform. Andrea Thomas, founder of Voices for Awareness/Facing Fentanyl, recounts the tragic loss of her daughter to fentanyl poisoning, underscoring the loophole's role in facilitating this crisis. Law enforcement organizations like the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) also stress the importance of closing the loophole to stem the flow of illicit narcotics.
The Coalition's call for action is resounding and achievable, whether through legislative measures or executive authority. With lives at stake and industries under threat, swift closure of the de minimis loophole is imperative to safeguard American lives and livelihoods.
