The U.S. Postal Service has announced the temporary suspension of all inbound packages from China and Hong Kong Posts, effective immediately. This change will remain in place until further notice. The suspension does not apply to letters or large envelopes sent from China and Hong Kong. This decision comes after President Trump imposed tariffs on various countries, with the 10% tax on goods from China still in effect.
The executive orders signed by Trump also eliminated the de minimis provision which allowed duty-free shipments of packages worth less than $800 into the U.S. Chinese e-commerce firms have heavily relied on this loophole to offer low prices on a wide range of products. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection processed over 1.3 billion de minimis shipments in 2024, with Chinese companies accounting for a significant portion.
The suspension of inbound packages from China and Hong Kong may result in increased costs for sellers and higher prices for U.S. consumers. Meanwhile, lawmakers and trade officials have argued that de minimis imports give Chinese companies an unfair advantage and may allow illicit drugs to enter the country through the mail.
Chinese e-commerce platforms like Temu and Shein have stated that their business models are not dependent on de minimis shipments. Both companies have opened distribution centers in the U.S. to store and ship goods locally. The trend of opening U.S. warehouses for domestic distribution has grown, with companies seeking to mitigate risks posed by trade restrictions.
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