Cross-border Daily Briefing 2026-09-01

📋 Cross-border Seller Daily | 2026-09-01

⏰ 30-Second Overview

• •US small-package direct mail customs rules undergo intensive adjustments starting today: the $800 duty-free exemption for non-postal channels is suspended indefinitely, Type 86 clearance rules are simultaneously tightened, and sellers using small-package direct mail must immediately switch to compliant declarations.
• •Amazon Europe's three major new policies take effect today; Pan-EU sellers who do not act today may face direct sales suspension.
• •The FTC and 22 states sue Amazon for charging hidden fees to 1.2 million advertisers; advertising cost transparency is in question, and sellers should keep advertising bill evidence.
• •TikTok opens search ads for the first time; some sellers saw conversion rates increase by 6 times, making it a window period for low-cost entry to a new traffic source.
• •TEMU mandates all products to submit UK/EU Responsible Person information; non-compliant products face delisting risk.

🔴 Key Focus

US Indefinitely Suspends Duty-Free Exemption for Low-Value Goods via Non-Postal Channels

US Customs announced the indefinite suspension of the administrative exemption for goods under $800 shipped through non-postal channels, meaning such goods no longer enjoy duty-free direct entry and must go through formal or informal customs entry procedures. The impact is greatest on small sellers relying on dedicated-line small-package direct mail to the US; per-parcel clearance costs and delivery times will both increase.

⏰ Effective now, enforced starting today.

Recommendations: Immediately confirm new clearance paths and quotes with your logistics provider; evaluate whether to switch to postal channels or overseas warehouse stocking; recalculate per-unit landed cost and pricing.

CBP Revises Type 86 Clearance Test Rules for Low-Value Goods

Type 86 clearance applies to rapid electronic filing for low-value goods under $800. This time CBP clarified the scope of regulatory exemptions and consequences for violations. Sellers using small-package direct mail who file non-compliant declarations will face cargo detention, delays, or even fines.

Recommendations: Today, check whether declaration data in your current clearance process is complete and accurate, especially product names, HS codes, and declared values, to avoid customs holds due to non-compliance.

Amazon Europe's Three Major New Policies Take Effect Today

The countdown has hit zero; Pan-EU sellers who do not act today will face sales restrictions. The new policies involve compliance materials, tax, and traceability requirements; any non-compliance may lead to listing removal or account restrictions.

⏰ Effective date: 2026-09-01, enforced today.

Recommendations: Log in to Seller Central immediately to review compliance task lists and confirm each item has been submitted; complete any outstanding submissions today; for goods already in transit, confirm they meet the new requirements.

FTC and 22 States Sue Amazon Over Hidden Advertising Surcharges

The FTC accuses Amazon of charging 1.2 million advertisers (about 500,000 small businesses) hidden advertising surcharges, with rates soaring from 4% to 80%, allegedly violating consumer protection laws. For sellers, actual advertising costs may be far higher than the displayed bid, and past spending may have been overcharged.

Recommendations: Export advertising bills for the past 12 months and check for surcharges not clearly disclosed; keep complete records and watch for settlement or compensation mechanisms from the lawsuit; be cautious about increasing large ad budgets in the short term.

TikTok Launches Search Ads, Sellers See Sharp Conversion Gains

TikTok has opened search ad placements for the first time, targeting on-platform search traffic with clear purchase intent. Some sellers saw a 6x improvement in conversion rates after testing; competition is currently low and traffic costs are relatively cheap, making this a bonus window for small and medium sellers.

Recommendations: Learn the bidding mechanism and creative requirements for search ads this week; select high-converting products with clear search intent in your store for initial testing; set a daily budget cap, and after one week compare ROI between search ads and in-feed ads before scaling.

Amazon Front-End Product Rating Display Undergoes Major Adjustment

Amazon may cancel the traditional star rating display and replace it with new indicators such as positive review rate. Changes in rating display logic will directly affect click-through and conversion rates, and the star advantage accumulated by old listings may be diluted.

Recommendations: Immediately screenshot and save your current Listing rating status as a baseline; increase efforts to obtain recent positive reviews and reduce negative review rates; monitor front-end display changes, and once new indicators are switched, adjust main images and titles to adapt to the new trust-building approach.

TEMU Mandates All Products Submit UK/EU Responsible Person Information

TEMU requires sellers to provide UK Authorized Representative (UK REP) and EU Authorized Representative (EU REP) information for all products; the platform will conduct compliance checks, and non-compliant products face delisting or penalties. This is the result of EU GPSR regulations and UK market compliance requirements being passed down to platforms.

Recommendations: Immediately check products in your store that target the EU/UK market and confirm they have valid authorized representatives; if not, contact compliance service providers for expedited processing; update TEMU backend compliance information and ensure products match authorization documents one-to-one.

US Proposes Excluding Goods Linked to Trade/National Security Actions from Low-Value Exemption

CBP proposes excluding goods involved in specific trade or national security actions (such as goods subject to additional tariffs) from the administrative exemption for goods under $800, and requiring 10-digit HTSUS codes. This means some categories will face tariffs and stricter declaration requirements even via small packages.

Recommendations: Continuously track the proposal's progress; proactively sort product lines and identify SKUs that may be subject to additional tariffs; prepare accurate 10-digit HTSUS codes for those SKUs in advance of potential declaration requirements.

8 Tips to Make the Most of Amazon Prime Day

Prime Day 2026 is scheduled for June 23-26, and the platform will drive massive on- and off-site traffic. Planning Listing optimization, ad architecture, and FBA inventory now can maximize traffic capture during the promotion.

Recommendations: Complete a promotional selection list this week and prioritize sufficient FBA inventory for main ASINs; review historical promo data to determine ad budget allocation; lock replenishment cycles with suppliers in advance to avoid stockouts before the event.

📌 Worth Watching

Compliance

• •Amazon Europe new policies mandatory from June 30 — Non-compliant sellers will face sales restrictions; today is the starting point for subsequent enforcement; quickly check backend compliance status (SellerJia)
• •Vietnam orders Shopee to remove 11 illegal health food products — Vietnam health product regulation is tightening; sellers in related categories should self-check compliance, with September 10 as the platform verification deadline (AMZ123)
• •TikTok signs MOU with Korean Intellectual Property Office — TikTok sellers involved in the Korean market face stricter IP audits; check brand authorization and infringement risks in advance (AMZ123)
• •Shopee Brazil affiliate commission invoicing new rules take effect — Invoices must be issued according to regulations, otherwise commission settlement will be affected; Brazil site sellers should understand the invoicing process (AMZ123)

Platform News

• •JD Cross-border platform enters European market — New channel may bring onboarding opportunities; pay attention to its policies and logistics rules (SellerJia)
• •Amazon bans UK seller again after previous ban — Malicious competition and platform risk control coexist; keeping evidence and operating compliantly is the best defense (PPC.land)
• •Shopee Singapore local store ad credit incentive — Up to $60 in ad credits over two periods, PXP sellers can participate to reduce advertising costs (AMZ123)
• •SHEIN's three entry models explained — Different models suit different supply chain types; assess your operational capabilities before entering (Hugo Cross-border)

Logistics & Warehousing

• •**India's Mundra Port stops accepting empty containers