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To be fair, it probably doesn't affect a lot of individuals in the US, since our de minimis is $800 [1]. Compare to e.g. Canada ($20 CAD).

[1] https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/de-minim...

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It doesn't affect a lot of US consumers, but it will affect a lot of US retailers.

Let's say after 2019-01-01 I want to purchase a $500 gadget that's being hit with the 25% tariff. I can either:

1. Buy it from Amazon or a local retailer and pay $500 x 1.25 x 1.085 (state and local sales tax) = $678

2. Buy it online from AliExpress/BangGood and pay $500 + shipping

Why would you not pay an extra 25% when buying from AliExpress?

Because it's below the $800 minimum on which import duty is required for a parcel imported by a single person on a single day. So Amazon would have to pay the duty on whatever they import, and you wouldn't.

It does become a loophole if the duty is much higher than the price of shipping.

The grand parent says individuals can import a thing up to $800 before tax.

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