The United States Postal Service announced on Wednesday that it will resume accepting incoming mail and packages from China and Hong Kong, just hours after suspending service from those regions.
The decision to stop accepting packages from China and Hong Kong “until further notice” was made after President Donald Trump imposed an additional 10% tariff on Chinese products. This move is part of new tariffs on the country’s three largest trading partners. Trump also closed a nearly century-old commercial legal loophole, called “de minimis,” that allowed exporters to send packages valued under $800 to the US tax-free.
As a result of the suspension of de minimis, emerging Chinese e-commerce companies Temu and Shein, known for their affordable clothing, furniture, and electronics, will be impacted. These companies have grown in popularity in the US due to their direct shipments from China.
Critics argue that the commercial legal loophole has allowed illicit drugs, such as fentanyl, to enter the US through the mail. Concerns have also been raised about counterfeit and dangerous products being sent through de minimis shipments.
The surge in e-commerce and low-value packages prompted Congress to raise the de minimis threshold from $200 to $800 in 2016. US Customs and Border Protection processed over 1.3 billion de minimis shipments in 2024, with Temu and Shein being significant players in this market.
Lawmakers have expressed concerns about the lack of scrutiny on de minimis shipments and the potential risks they pose. The USPS and CBP are working closely to implement efficient collection mechanisms for the new Chinese tariffs to minimize disruptions in package deliveries from these regions.
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