Life got easier last week for importers of low-value consignments when U.S. Customs issued a rulemaking increasing the threshold for informal entries to $2,500 from $2,000, effective Jan. 7. Informal entry expedites customs clearance because it requires a much simpler document, eliminates the need for a surety bond and reduces the $25 minimum merchandise processing fee to $2 (for entries filed electronically). Business groups have been pushing for the change for m...