Section 321 is a specific United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provision that allows for the duty-free entry of shipments valued at $800 or less per person, per day. In the context of modern e-commerce, this is the most powerful tool for companies looking to optimize their cross-border supply chain.
How it works: Under 19 USC § 1321, goods that qualify as “de minimis” shipments enter the United States without the payment of duties or taxes, provided they are not part of a single order split into multiple shipments to evade taxes. For a company like Lateral Fulfillment operating in Tijuana, this means we can store your bulk inventory in Mexico and ship individual orders directly to US consumers. Since each order is valued under $800, they cross the border duty-free.
Strategic Advantages for E-commerce:
1. Massive Cost Savings: Companies importing goods from China to the US often face high Section 301 tariffs (up to 25%). By moving fulfillment to Mexico, these same goods can enter the US duty-free under Section 321.
2. Faster Customs Clearance: Section 321 shipments typically require less documentation than formal entries, leading to faster border crossings and quicker “last-mile” delivery.
3. Increased Profit Margins: Lowering the landed cost of each item allows brands to either offer more competitive pricing or increase their bottom line.
Example: A US-based electronics brand ships 10,000 units from China to a warehouse in California, paying $50,000 in duties. If that same brand ships to Lateral Fulfillment in Mexico and fulfills individual orders to the US, those duties drop to $0 under Section 321.
Stop overpaying US duties. Our Tijuana facility is optimized for Section 321, allowing you to save up to 100% on tariffs for qualified shipments.
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