Ending the de minimis loophole was long overdue. For decades, bad actors have exploited cheap, low-value shipments to smuggle contraband and flood U.S. and EU markets with goods, undercutting local competition in the process. Slapping duties on these packages is a necessity if either is to have any hope of levellingleveling the playing field, restoring fairness in trade and countering e-commerce giants gaming the system.