Most people have never heard of the de minimis loophole, but it’s been quietly hurting American workers and endangering our communities for almost a decade. That’s now changing because Republicans and Democrats came together to fix it.

Until recently, the de minimis loophole allowed foreign companies, particularly in China, to ship goods directly to American doorsteps with zero oversight, as long as the shipment was valued under $800. Last year, the Customs and Border Protection released a report highlighting the significant danger of almost 4 million unchecked shipments entering the country daily. Many of these shipments contain deadly narcotics, firearms, and other contraband that directly threaten national security. No accountability, no inspections, no rules.

I was proud to be part of a bipartisan coalition of leaders across the country that helped bring this issue to the attention of U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamison Greer (a BYU graduate himself). After months of pressure, testimony, and advocacy, the Trump administration has now taken long-overdue action to end the de minimis loophole.

This is a major win for families in Utah and across America.

Since 2016, drug trafficking organizations have been exploiting de minimis to smuggle fentanyl and other synthetic drugs into our country, bypassing customs inspections and flooding our streets with poison. As a police officer in Provo, I’ve seen the devastating impact of fentanyl poisoning firsthand. Paul Martin from United Against Fentanyl chronicled how fentanyl overdoses are now the number one cause of death in the U.S. for those between 18-45, more than heart disease, more than cancer, more than homicides and car crashes, combined.

The economic threat was just as serious. Chinese-based companies like Temu and SHEIN used the loophole to undercut American businesses, sending millions of packages into the U.S. without inspections, fees, or meeting basic labor or environmental standards. A recent issue brief from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) warned that SHEIN sells items for children that have been found to have dangerous levels of lead, perfluoroalkyl (PFAS), and phthalates in them. Reports have also shown these companies are linked to forced labor and even child labor, and yet their products were arriving on doorsteps without a second thought.

Meanwhile, Utah manufacturers who play by the rules, comply with labor laws, pay fair wages, and protect the environment, were left to compete against reckless foreign factories operating outside any system of accountability. That ended on April 2 when President Trump signed an executive order closing the loophole.

This is what happens when we put politics aside and fight for American workers and families. America is strongest when we stand for common-sense trade, safe communities, and the simple principle that no one should profit from cheating our system or poisoning American citizens. There’s still work to do, but this is a major step forward, and proof that when we unite behind the right cause, we can win.

Rep. Tyler Clancy, Utah House District 60 (Provo)