Scott Lincecum

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.

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.

But there's been this, I mean, we're talking about, I seem to remember 4 million parcels a day crossing via the de minimis exception now. Now, again, I'll just put on my libertarian free trader hat and say, maybe it was actually better to have bulk shipments coming directly from China than having 4 million packages sent across from Mexico. But sorry, your tariffs have caused this big mess.

But there's been this, I mean, we're talking about, I seem to remember 4 million parcels a day crossing via the de minimis exception now. Now, again, I'll just put on my libertarian free trader hat and say, maybe it was actually better to have bulk shipments coming directly from China than having 4 million packages sent across from Mexico. But sorry, your tariffs have caused this big mess.

But there's been this, I mean, we're talking about, I seem to remember 4 million parcels a day crossing via the de minimis exception now. Now, again, I'll just put on my libertarian free trader hat and say, maybe it was actually better to have bulk shipments coming directly from China than having 4 million packages sent across from Mexico. But sorry, your tariffs have caused this big mess.

So this is tariffs 101, right? Tariffs, when you apply them to an input, fertilizer is an input. It's going to harm your downstream producers. Farmers are downstream producers. And tariffs always lead to cronyism and lobbying because everybody wants an exception or exemption or they want their own tariffs.

So this is tariffs 101, right? Tariffs, when you apply them to an input, fertilizer is an input. It's going to harm your downstream producers. Farmers are downstream producers. And tariffs always lead to cronyism and lobbying because everybody wants an exception or exemption or they want their own tariffs.