De minimis

De minimis non curat lex is a Latin phrase that means “the law cares not for small things.” A de minimis value in the context of international trade is one that is so small it does not attract the imposition of duty or tax. In other words, the value of the item is so low that it’s not worth the time and effort to determine its real value.

The de minimis rule in international trade law can refer to a few things. First, it can refer to the fact that items below a certain value do not attract taxes or customs duties. Second, it can refer to a rule regarding the determination of the country of origin of a good. Items made with an amount of material from a specific country that is below the de minimis level (often 7% of the item as a whole) will not be defined as originating from that country.

De minimis refers to the Latin phrase De minimis non curat Lex, which means that “the law cares not for small things.” In the international trade context, this translates to the fact that countries have fixed a value below which they will not attempt to affix a dollar amount to a good or product for the purpose of charging tax or duty. It is simply not worth the government’s time and effort.