Congressman Moylan Co-leads Bipartisan Effort to Reinstate De Minimus Protections for Guam & Other U.S. Territories

CONGRESSMAN MOYLAN CO-LEADS BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO REINSTATE DE MINIMIS PROTECTIONS FOR GUAM & OTHER U.S. TERRITORIES (Washington, D.C.) - Congressman James Moylan has joined the delegates of the Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa in introducing H.R. 5960 - Territorial De Minimis Exemption Act, bipartisan legislation to reverse the impacts of Executive Order 14324, which abruptly suspended the de minimis exemption for low-value shipments from the U.S. territories.

The sudden policy shift resulted in packages being treated as foreign shipments, creating delays, unexpected fees, and confusion for residents and businesses throughout the islands. The new bill restores the duty-free treatment Congress originally intended for Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and creates safeguards to ensure federal agencies consider territorial impacts before imposing future trade or tariff restrictions.

Congressman Moylan said the measure is critical to protecting Guam residents from unfair federal actions. "I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this essential legislation. The recent executive order suspending the de minimis exemption has a real impact on the lives of the people of Guam and is an unjust policy to levy on only those living in the U.S. Territories. Through this legislation we're making our voices clear: Americans in the Territories should be treated equally to those in the States."

In a joint press release Congressman Moylan 's fellow territorial delegates echoed the same message of fairness and clarity. Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-Northern Mariana Islands) highlighted the longstanding legal framework Congress intended for the territories, explaining: "The Northern Mariana Islands and our sister territories have a clearly defined status under U.S. law. We are not foreign countries, but neither are we part of the customs territory. Our relationship is unique, and that is reflected in the laws that govern how our goods move through the American market. This bill restores that balance and makes sure federal policy honors the intent of Congress."

Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (D-U.S. Virgin Islands) stressed that territorial residents deserve to be treated as full participants in the U.S. economy: "For too long, U.S. territories have been treated as afterthoughts in trade policy-swept into restrictions meant for foreign countries despite being integral parts of the United States. This legislation permanently protects the de minimis exemption for our territories and requires federal agencies to consider territorial impacts before enacting trade restrictions. Our residents pay taxes, serve in uniform, and are American citizens in every sense-they deserve economic policies that recognize that reality. This legislation represents our united voice as territorial delegates: our constituents are Americans, and federal trade policy must reflect that reality."

Congresswoman Amata Radewagen (R-American Samoa) underscored the economic burden placed on island residents and small businesses when federal policy misclassifies the territories: "Our people in the islands deserve the same federal services at the same rates as the rest of the United States. That's an important principle of fairness, and it's also important for our local economies, so our hardworking small businesses have services and shipping at standard U.S. rates. Thank you to Reps. King-Hinds, Moylan, and Plaskett as we work together on our bipartisan legislation."

H.R. 5960 restores duty-free treatment for goods originating in the territories, reinstates the "bona fide gifts" exemption for all four territories by adding the Northern Mariana Islands, and requires federal agencies to consult with territorial leaders before imposing future tariff or trade changes.

Congressman Moylan said the unified front among all territorial delegates reflects a shared commitment: "Our residents should never be placed at a disadvantage because of where they live. This bill reaffirms that Americans in the territories deserve equal treatment and federal decisions that recognize our legal status."

H.R. 5960 has been introduced in the House and referred to the appropriate committees for review.

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