Plato USA

The Portable Lights American Trade Organization (PLATO), representing the leading manufacturers and distributors of portable lighting in the United States, welcomes the recent policy change that ended the de minimis exemption for imported goods valued under $800.

For years, this loophole allowed millions of products—many of them sold through overseas e-commerce platforms—to enter the U.S. market without duties or tariffs. Domestic companies were required to pay tariffs exceeding 40 percent on comparable products, creating an uneven playing field. Closing this loophole restores fairness and ensures that all participants in the market operate under the same rules.

PLATO believes this change strengthens American businesses, supports U.S. jobs, and rewards companies that have consistently complied with trade regulations. While the transition will take time for international postal systems to adapt, the long-term benefits of a level playing field outweigh the short-term disruption.

As an industry, we remain committed to providing consumers with high-quality, innovative, and fairly priced lighting solutions. This policy change helps ensure that competition is based on product quality and innovation, not on regulatory gaps.

Contact:
Andy Skoogman
Executive Director
Portable Lights American Trade Organization
executivedirector@plato-usa.org