Scott Lincecum

Tariffs don't do that. They don't say, oh, we're only going to tariff the additional stuff you did. They just give you the full 100% of the new value of the product, right? So – You're effectively, because of this system, which makes sense, it's hard to determine value-add at the border. Nobody's going to do that.

Tariffs don't do that. They don't say, oh, we're only going to tariff the additional stuff you did. They just give you the full 100% of the new value of the product, right? So – You're effectively, because of this system, which makes sense, it's hard to determine value-add at the border. Nobody's going to do that.

Tariffs don't do that. They don't say, oh, we're only going to tariff the additional stuff you did. They just give you the full 100% of the new value of the product, right? So – You're effectively, because of this system, which makes sense, it's hard to determine value-add at the border. Nobody's going to do that.

Because of the system, though, you can end up with tariffs that are just exponentially increasing because these things cross the border so many times.

Because of the system, though, you can end up with tariffs that are just exponentially increasing because these things cross the border so many times.

Because of the system, though, you can end up with tariffs that are just exponentially increasing because these things cross the border so many times.

This is another one of those kind of hugely underreported things. So the de minimis exception does have raised some concerns, right?

This is another one of those kind of hugely underreported things. So the de minimis exception does have raised some concerns, right?

This is another one of those kind of hugely underreported things. So the de minimis exception does have raised some concerns, right?

Because effectively, after the China tariffs were applied, a bunch of manufacturers realized they could set up warehouses in Mexico and Canada and bring in small shipments from China, store them in the warehouse, and then send them to the United States duty-free, right? Because they're small dollar values. Got it.

Because effectively, after the China tariffs were applied, a bunch of manufacturers realized they could set up warehouses in Mexico and Canada and bring in small shipments from China, store them in the warehouse, and then send them to the United States duty-free, right? Because they're small dollar values. Got it.

Because effectively, after the China tariffs were applied, a bunch of manufacturers realized they could set up warehouses in Mexico and Canada and bring in small shipments from China, store them in the warehouse, and then send them to the United States duty-free, right? Because they're small dollar values. Got it.

There are needs for reforms, but by simply banning all de minimis shipments, you're actually hitting a lot of perfectly legal trade and a lot of stuff, like you said, like grandma's cookies from Canada. But the other big point is – I don't know how customs is actually going to enforce this.

There are needs for reforms, but by simply banning all de minimis shipments, you're actually hitting a lot of perfectly legal trade and a lot of stuff, like you said, like grandma's cookies from Canada. But the other big point is – I don't know how customs is actually going to enforce this.

There are needs for reforms, but by simply banning all de minimis shipments, you're actually hitting a lot of perfectly legal trade and a lot of stuff, like you said, like grandma's cookies from Canada. But the other big point is – I don't know how customs is actually going to enforce this.

So some people look – because de minimis reform has been a thing that has been discussed for years now because of the kind of Sheehan and Timu taking advantage of this system, which by the way, again, just to be clear, was never a problem until we had all these tariffs in place, right?

So some people look – because de minimis reform has been a thing that has been discussed for years now because of the kind of Sheehan and Timu taking advantage of this system, which by the way, again, just to be clear, was never a problem until we had all these tariffs in place, right?

So some people look – because de minimis reform has been a thing that has been discussed for years now because of the kind of Sheehan and Timu taking advantage of this system, which by the way, again, just to be clear, was never a problem until we had all these tariffs in place, right?

Well, this is what we're getting at. 30,000 new customs agents or more. Customs officials have said to Congress and whatever, the amount of resources it would need to actually inspect individual de minimis shipments is outrageous. It's crazy. They do inspect. They do a sampling system. They scan them. They do everything they can. Sure.

Well, this is what we're getting at. 30,000 new customs agents or more. Customs officials have said to Congress and whatever, the amount of resources it would need to actually inspect individual de minimis shipments is outrageous. It's crazy. They do inspect. They do a sampling system. They scan them. They do everything they can. Sure.