Governor leads territorial coalition seeking targeted small-package relief that honors the Virgin Islands’ separate customs status
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. met with senior leaders at the U.S. Department of the Interior last week to address Executive Order 14324, which suspends duty-free treatment for shipments valued at $800 or less. In the meeting, he requested an exemption for shipments to and from the U.S. territories and set in motion a coordinated territorial response.
Gov. Bryan will follow with a formal letter to the secretary of the Interior and the president of the United States seeking an exemption for the U.S. Virgin Islands and the other insular territories. He has organized a coalition of territorial governors to co-sign the request, so the case is made with one voice and a clear remedy.
“Families, students, seniors and small businesses in the Virgin Islands rely on small packages the way most communities rely on a corner store,” Gov. Bryan said. “They carry essentials, tools, and hope in a box. A targeted exemption recognizes that the same rule can weigh differently on an island. We can meet national enforcement goals without making everyday life harder for people who already pay more for distance.”
The Governor emphasized that questions have been raised about whether the Virgin Islands belongs inside or outside the U.S. customs zone. He made clear that this is not a matter within his authority as Governor of the Virgin Islands. The customs status of the Virgin Islands is determined by Congress through federal law and administered by federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The governing framework was established in the Tariff Act of 1930 and related statutes, and only Congress has the power to change it.
Bryan noted that a distinct customs framework lets the territory calibrate costs for residents, support local small businesses that depend on parts and supplies, and coordinate enforcement closely with federal partners. “This is a practical fix with human stakes,” he said. “It keeps the shelves stocked, the classrooms supplied and the wheels of our local economy turning.”
The governor will transmit the formal request this week and continue direct engagement with the Department of the Interior, and congressional partners. He is leading the territorial coalition, so the proposal reflects the realities of island life and delivers relief without undercutting national policy.
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