In a major shake-up, U.S. consumers may soon see higher prices and delivery delays on imports from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on April 2, ending the duty-free de minimis treatment for imports valued at $800 or less, effective May 2 at 12:01 a.m. EDT. 🚀
The change, originally announced in February and then paused amid customs backlogs, now means that packages which were previously duty free will face significant charges. Shipments loaded after April 9 are already subject to the new rules, putting added pressure on customs, postal services, and online retailers.
This policy adds to recently imposed tariffs on Chinese goods that now total 145%. Consequently, many U.S. importers are rethinking their strategies, with fewer ships leaving the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region due to rising costs. For instance, orders that once sailed through duty free now incur either a 120% duty or a flat fee of $100 – a fee set to rise to $200 on June 1. 📦
These developments remind us how global trade policies can quickly impact our everyday lives. For our tech-savvy, mobile-first community that frequently shops online, keeping an eye on such shifts is more important than ever. Stay informed and shop smart! 🙌
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U.S. consumers may face pricier Chinese goods as duty-free imports end
cgtn.com
