Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett provided an update on her continued engagement with the White House regarding customs duty requirements impacting U.S. territories outside the customs zone:
“Effective August 29, 2025, Executive Order 14324 – Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries – eliminated the duty-free de minimis exemption for goods valued at $800 or less entering from outside of the U.S. customs zone. This order affects the U.S. territories outside the customs zone (the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands) requiring residents to prepay customs duties on packages shipped to the fifty U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, which is the only U.S. territory inside the customs zone.
“The duty requirements apply only to packages leaving the territories—goods entering the Virgin Islands are not impacted by this change. While prices are increasing on many goods throughout the country for various reasons, the de minimis exemption suspension does not impact goods coming into the Virgin Islands.
“I am grateful for the continued engagement and dialogue on this critical issue with the Trump Administration and my territorial colleagues. I remain committed to working closely with my colleagues representing Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands to ensure our collective voices are heard and that we secure relief for all affected territories. The White House has demonstrated an acute awareness of the significant challenges this situation presents for the U.S. territories. In light of the current federal government shutdown, constituents have inquired whether we remain actively engaged in addressing this issue. I want to assure the people of the Virgin Islands that this remains a top priority. Through my office’s White House liaison—members of Congress are assigned White House liaisons to facilitate ongoing communication with the Administration—our engagement is positive and has continued without interruption.
“I remain committed to securing a solution, just as I successfully worked with the Trump Administration earlier this year to obtain an exemption for the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Caribbean from punitive port fees. I will continue working with the same determination to secure relief for the people of the Virgin Islands and all affected territories.”
Using the Zonos Prepay App
Residents shipping packages from the U.S. Virgin Islands to the fifty U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico must use the Zonos Prepay app to calculate and pay duties to U.S. Customs and Border Protection before visiting the Post Office. After creating an account, users must input information about all package contents, including the number of items, descriptions, country of origin, and value. The application calculates the duties owed to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and charges a clearance and processing fee. Once completed, customers obtain a Declaration ID and QR Code, which USPS requires to accept packages for delivery from the U.S. territories to the fifty U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico.
