From August 29th, 2025, global trade will enter a new era. The long-standing $800 duty-free threshold for E-Commerce shipments, will be removed worldwide. This change is not minor. It impacts every E-Commerce shipment, regardless of value or origin, and will reshape the way businesses approach U.S. logistics.
For many, this means uncertainty. For Liberty Express Ltd clients, it means continuity.
The $800 allowance once acted as a safety net. Smaller shipments were spared from duties and taxes, making it easier for businesses to test new markets, send samples, or keep costs predictable. With its removal, that flexibility disappears. Every shipment, no matter how small, will now fall under the same customs scrutiny as high-value shipments.
What does this look like in practice? Businesses can expect higher landed costs, stricter data and documentation requirements, and a sharp increase in the risk of clearance delays. For companies without a plan, this could mean stalled supply chains, unhappy customers, and unanticipated costs eating into margins.
This is where preparation makes the difference. Liberty Express Ltd has spent over 15 years exclusively exporting to the U.S. navigating every regulatory change, customs requirement, and compliance shift along the way. That experience has built not only processes that work but also relationships and knowledge that allow our clients to remain competitive when others fall behind.
While others may scramble to reconfigure their supply chains, Liberty Express clients benefit from established systems designed to adapt quickly. Our approach ensures that shipments continue moving seamlessly, duties and taxes are handled with precision, and costs are carefully controlled. In short, the complexity is managed so your business doesn’t feel the impact.
Change is inevitable in global trade, but disruption doesn’t have to be. The removal of the $800 duty-free threshold is significant, but it doesn’t have to slow you down. Partnering with a logistics provider that already knows the U.S. inside out means staying ahead, avoiding costly surprises, and protecting your customer promise.
When the rules shift, experience matters more than ever. With Liberty Express Ltd, you’ll be ready.
FAQ’s
At Liberty Express Ltd, we specialise in UK–USA logistics, helping e-commerce businesses, publishers, and retailers keep their operations moving even as UK postal networks face delays and disruption. Below are answers to the most common questions we receive about shipping to America, customs duties, IT integrations, and delivery times.
1. How quickly can new customers get started with Liberty Express?
Getting started with Liberty Express is fast and simple:
Complete our application form
Upload your CSV files or connect via our API integration
Start creating labels immediately
Agree to send us the parcels or pricing with collection priced in
Most new customers are fully set up within 1 business day, meaning you can begin shipping to the USA almost instantly.
2. How are tariffs and duties calculated on USA shipments?
Duties and tariffs are based on commodity codes, country of origin for the product & declared value declared on your shipments.
Tariff % depends on the country of origin
Duties are a percentage of the shipment’s value based on the commodity
For example,
If you ship products worth £100 and the duty rate is 4%, the charge would be £4.
Liberty Express offers two options,
We can pay duties/tariffs on your behalf and invoice you later
Or you pay us the duties and taxes upfront
This flexibility ensures your USA customers experience a smooth delivery.
3. How does Liberty Express shipping differ from postal organisations?
Unlike many postal organisations, which use a postal entry system into the United States, Liberty Express offers a commercial entry solution. This usually means:
Faster customs clearance
Fewer potential delays/bottlenecks
But with the same trusted USPS final mile delivery within the USA and cost effective postal pricing
This is why so many UK businesses are switching from postal organisations, including those looking for a Royal Mail alternative for USA shipping, to Liberty Express.
4. What are the transit times for shipping from the UK to the USA? Are there delays?
While many UK postal networks are currently under stress with limited or no systems in place for the recent changes, Liberty Express has already implemented solutions.
Our standard transit times remain reliable, and we continue to deliver to the USA without major disruption. In fact, publishers and e-commerce brands who switched to us from postal organisations, particularly those seeking a replacement for Royal Mail’s USA services, have been able to continue shipping books and products without interruption since August 22nd.
5. Will there be backlogs or disruptions with Liberty Express?
No. Our systems are live and operating now. Businesses that rely on the USA market should make the switch before disruptions force them to pause shipping altogether.
Liberty Express offers an immediate solution for uninterrupted USA shipping, helping you protect your sales and customer relationships.
6. Why are businesses switching to Liberty Express from postal organisations?
Postal organisations have faced suspended services and delays since late August
Book publishers in particular have struggled to get titles into the USA market
Liberty Express clients report they are “glad they switched” as it has allowed them to continue shipping without delay
Many businesses searching for a Royal Mail USA shipping alternative have chosen Liberty Express for our stability and proven solutions.
7. Is Liberty Express the right long-term solution for my business?
Yes. Liberty Express provides a stable and future-proof solution for UK–USA e-commerce logistics, including,
Fast onboarding (within 1 day)
API and CSV upload capabilities
Reliable customs clearance with commercial entry
A proven track record of helping clients switch from failing postal networks
Make the decision to switch now, before delays damage your business operations.
👉 Looking for a reliable Royal Mail alternative for USA shipping?
Contact Liberty Express Ltd today and keep your international orders moving without delays.
