by Ryan Markiewicz | Jul 2, 2026 | Global Logistics Alerts
The EU de minimis change took effect on July 1st, 2026
Following the US Administration’s lead, which removed the $800 de minimis threshold last year, the EU will, from 1 July 2026, introduce a temporary €3 customs duty on low-value parcels imported from outside the EU, mainly through e-commerce. This includes a wide range of products commonly bought online, such as clothing, toys, electronics, and other consumer goods worth up to €150.
Every day, millions of low-value parcels enter the EU. Many contain products that do not meet EU safety standards or are undervalued or falsely declared to avoid customs duties. At the same time, the current customs duty exemption gives non-EU sellers an unfair advantage over businesses that manufacture or sell products in the EU.
The new duty will apply per item, based on tariff classification and not quantity. In practice, this means:
- if you buy 5 T-shirts, a €3 customs duty will be applied (as all T-shirts fall under the same tariff classification)
- if you buy 3 T-shirts and a watch, a €6 customs duty will be applied (as the T-shirts and the watch fall under two different tariff classifications)
- The seller or importer will be responsible for declaring and paying the duty as part of the customs process.
The new measure will help create fairer competition for EU businesses, better protect consumers from unsafe products, tackle customs fraud, and address environmental concerns over mass shipping.
The EU is working to modernize customs procedures to strengthen the single market and ensure that all businesses selling into the EU compete on equal terms while meeting the EU’s safety and compliance standards.
The original press release from the European Commission on December 11th, 2025, can be found here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_3045
As always, Logistics Plus is here to support you through this process and any other trade compliance changes.
by Ryan Markiewicz | Jun 30, 2026 | Global Logistics Alerts
Proposed Changes to the De Minimis Duty Exemptions by CBP (June 23, 2026)
On June 23, CBP published two proposed rules to indefinitely suspend the de minimis duty exemption for low-value imports — but this time, they’re not relying on IEEPA.
Instead, CBP is citing authority under the Tariff Act of 1930, which allows the agency to limit or suspend tariff exemptions “for any reason to protect the revenue or to prevent unlawful importations.”
Why does the legal basis matter?
The IEEPA-based suspension has faced legal challenges in the Court of International Trade. By pivoting to a more established statutory authority, CBP is making this suspension significantly harder to overturn in court.
What this means for importers:
- The $800 de minimis threshold is effectively on life support
- E-commerce and low-value import models built around duty-free entry need to be reassessed
- Compliance costs and formal entry requirements are coming for shipments that previously flew under the radar
This isn’t a temporary policy pause anymore. Importers should be treating this as a permanent shift in the landscape and planning accordingly.
Find the link to the Federal Register notice here: https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-12669.pdf
As always, Logistics Plus is here to provide guidance and support.
by Ryan Markiewicz | Jun 28, 2026 | Berlin's Wall
All,
Just as a side note on our recent visit to Gdansk for the G7 Ukraine Business Advisory Council meetings…
It was a very positive event, and some of the changing realities on the Ukraine-Russia battlefront created more optimism than in previous years that the war may finally be moving toward an end. Fingers crossed.
These conferences really aren’t my thing (as those of you who know me probably already know 😉). Derek is much better at them than I am. But they do give us the opportunity to meet and interact with leaders from business and government around the world, and they allow LP to play a small part in the fight for the freedom and independence that this war is ultimately about. I’m proud and honored that we have this opportunity to contribute.
As I mentioned earlier, the trip also gave us a chance to spend time with our LP office in Gdansk and to catch up with Petro and Oksana Fedoruk—two of our favorite people—who represent LP in various parts of the world whenever needed. We truly couldn’t ask for better representatives or better friends to spend time with.
After the conference wrapped up on Friday, the four of us headed over to nearby Sopot for the afternoon. Now, if you’re like me, you probably don’t think of northern Poland as a beach destination…but Sopot absolutely is. Beautiful hotel. Beautiful weather. Beautiful sandy beach. We relaxed, had a drink, enjoyed the afternoon, and took a few pictures.
Then, just for shits and giggles, Oksana decided to have a little fun with AI.
Check out the photos below.
I bet this is not what most people picture when thinking of Poland 🙂
There are actually several “Grand Hotels” like this one along the North Sea shore between Gdansk and Gdynia
Petro & Oksana with Derek and I enjoying a relaxing afternoon.
We took this picture. Then Oksana decided to have some AI fun 😉
She turned it into this picture
Then dressed us up, and put us back into the conference hall in this picture
Then added a couple of “friends” at the conference
Then had Tom Hanks and Rodney Dangerfield join us
And then we all celebrated! And these were all done in minutes while sitting at a table under an umbrella by the beach having dinner. CRAZY!!
I’m definitely not a tech guy. I was an early adopter of computers and the internet, but I have zero technical skills—you can ask Andrew, Keith, Emile, or Tony! 😂 I’m still trying to figure out how those two tin cans connected by a waxed string actually work.
That said, I have become a huge fan of ChatGPT. I use it every day, and I think artificial intelligence is going to change the world in ways we’re only beginning to understand.
What amazed me was watching Oksana create these images. She did it in just a few minutes, and it looked almost effortless.
If this is where the technology is today, imagine where it will be in another year…or five.
All I can say is…
Buckle up. 😉
Onward! -JB
Farewell, Gdansk.
A fairy tale city. I hope to come back again one day.
by Ryan Markiewicz | Jun 26, 2026 | Berlin's Wall
All,
It’s been a very busy week, and I’m just grabbing a few minutes to try and summarize everything (apologies if I miss something 🙂).
The week began with the G7 Leaders’ Summit, where world leaders reaffirmed their support for Ukraine. That was followed by the Ukraine Recovery Conference, which brings together governments, financial institutions, and business leaders focused on Ukraine’s defense, recovery, and long-term reconstruction.
For the third consecutive year, LP has been one of just three U.S. companies representing American business at the conference, alongside Northrop Grumman and Palantir. Representatives from major global companies such as Siemens, Philips, and Vestas, as well as many of Ukraine’s leading businesses, also participated. It is a big deal, and Derek and I are honored to be part of it.
One of the highlights for us was signing an agreement with UkraineInvest, the investment promotion agency of the Ukrainian government. Through this partnership, UkraineInvest will open its first overseas office, located within the LP/Berlin Bridges office that Derek has established in downtown Manhattan. This will give the Ukrainian government closer access to U.S. businesses looking to explore opportunities in Ukraine.
The New York location is especially meaningful. Many of these discussions naturally happen in Washington, D.C., and Ukraine already has an important government presence there. But, as I mentioned during the signing ceremony, the United States has always been the Land of Opportunity, and New York City remains the financial capital of the country. As Ukraine increasingly becomes a land of opportunity itself, we’re hopeful this office will help facilitate conversations, partnerships, and investments that support both Ukraine’s defense today and its reconstruction tomorrow. 🤞
I also had the chance to visit with Slawek and our Gdańsk team and enjoy a quick dinner together. It’s always great spending time with our teams. I love their energy and spirit, and they’re continuing to grow. It’s amazing to think we’ve been in Poland for more than 25 years now. I still remember first meeting Paweł in Rzeszów, and I’m grateful he’s still such an important part of our efforts in Poland and across Europe.
We also attended a dinner hosted by our good friends at the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), where we were treated to a beautiful performance by Ukrainian Army veterans. During the evening, we were fortunate to win a painting created by one of the veterans during the charity auction. It was later signed by Oksana Markarova, the former Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, and will hang proudly in our Kyiv office.
Finally, Derek and I were able to spend time this week with Petro and Oksana Fedorov, two of our favorite people, who continue to be deeply involved in supporting Ukraine and a number of other LP initiatives around the world. We truly have wonderful people at LP, and moments like these make me incredibly proud.
Heading back to the U.S. tomorrow. It was a good trip, and hopefully we continue to make a difference.
LP—Always punching above our weight. 💪
Onward! -JB
Signing the agreement with UkraineInvest to house their first US office in LP’s NYC office. This will make it much easier for American companies to connect and meet with the representatives of the Ukrainian government to explore potential business opportunities.
Oleksiy Sobolev, Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine. And a very good guy 👍
This is the painting we won at the auction here. Former Ambassador to the US. Painted by a Ukrainian soldier. Former Ambassador to the US, Oxana Markarova signed it. It will hang proudly in our Kyiv office.
These veterans performed several beautiful musical pieces for the US-Ukraine Business Council members.
Though (as always) a crazy busy schedule, I got to visit our Gdansk office and have a nice dinner with the team there. Definitely one of the highlights of my trip 😊
Gdansk.
This is where the beginning of the end of the old Soviet Union started with protests by the shipbuilders here led by Lech Walesa. At the start of the G7 session, Polish Prime Minister opened the conference with a video of that rebellion. And he made the very cogent point that “While the fight for our freedom and independence began right here in Gdansk, today it is the proud and heroic people of Ukraine who continue it”. True words!!!
Gdansk, Poland. Looks like a fairy tale city.
It’s always a real pleasure to be in Petro and Oxana’s company 🙂
Proudly sporting the LP colors in Poland 🙂
by Ryan Markiewicz | Jun 25, 2026 | News
The Logistics Plus El Salvador (aka LP El Salvador) team has been fully operational since March 2026 and continues to strengthen the company’s presence throughout Central America. As Logistics Plus expands its global network, the El Salvador office serves as a strategic hub for supporting customers across the region with customized logistics and supply chain solutions.
LP El Salvador offers a comprehensive range of services, including:
- International Freight Forwarding
- Imports & Exports
- Customs & Compliance
- Project Cargo
- Regional Distribution
- Supply Chain Management
The office is led by Country Manager Alejandra Gonzalez, with Beatriz Marquez leading business development efforts. Together, they are focused on supporting customers across key industries, including energy, manufacturing, consumer goods, retail, and infrastructure projects.
El Salvador serves as an important gateway for regional and international trade. LP El Salvador further strengthens the Logistics Plus presence in Latin America, complementing recent investments in Mexico, ongoing growth in Brazil and Chile, and support from the company’s Miami operation. Whether serving as a 3PL or 4PL partner, Logistics Plus continues to provide flexible, customized solutions that help customers navigate increasingly complex supply chains throughout the Americas.
For any requests involving our El Salvador office, please email [email protected]. If you want to learn more, you can visit the Logistics Plus El Salvador website at sv.logisticsplus.com.
Logistics Plus, Inc. (El Salvador)
Boulevard del Hipódromo, pasaje 11, #73,
Colonia San Benito, San Salvador, El Salvador
