USPS resumes accepting packages from China, but trade war continues
5 February 17:09
The US Postal Service has announced the resumption of accepting parcels from China and Hong Kong after a temporary suspension, Komersant ukrainskyi reports with reference to Reuters.
The reason for the previous suspension was US President Donald Trump’s decision to cancel a trade preference that was actively used by retailers such as Temu, Shein and Amazon to import low-cost goods to the US duty-free.
The Trump administration imposed an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods and closed the “de minimis” exception, which previously allowed duty-free importation of parcels from China worth less than $800. The decision came into effect at midnight on Tuesday.
According to the USPS, the service is working closely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to implement an effective mechanism for collecting the new tariffs in an effort to minimize disruption to parcel delivery.
According to Maureen Corey, co-founder of Supply Chain Compliance, a New York-based consulting firm, no one had time to prepare for these changes.
“We really need guidance from the government on how to handle this,” she said,
– she said.
Previously, parcels under the de minimis rule were processed in a consolidated manner, which allowed customs to process hundreds or even thousands of shipments at once. Now, each parcel will need to be cleared separately, which will significantly increase the workload of postal services, brokers and customs agents.
Statistics show that in 2024, about 1.36 billion shipments arrived in the United States under the de minimis provision, which is 36% more than in 2023. This indicates the rapid growth of online commerce and the active use of this benefit.
Logistics provider Easyship has warned its customers about increased inspections of parcels worth up to $800. The company recommends setting up distribution centers in the US or cooperating with local warehouses. At the same time, some international couriers, including FedEx and SF Express, will continue to send parcels to the United States.
The retailers Shein and Temu, which together accounted for more than 30% of all daily parcels to the US under the de minimis program, will be most affected by these changes. According to the June 2023 report of the US Congressional Committee on China, almost half of all parcels received under this benefit originated from China.
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Trump’s trade wars
The United States has imposed trade restrictions not only on China but also on Mexico and Canada, the two other largest trading partners of the United States.
These measures have caused concern among US companies that depend on metal imports from Canada and Mexico. They are expected to look for alternative sources of supply, particularly in the Middle East, India, Chile, and Peru, which could lead to higher prices for aluminum and copper in the United States.
In addition, Canadian consumers reacted to the imposition of duties by boycotting American goods, canceling trips to the United States and refusing to buy American alcohol.
However, after negotiations with the leaders of these countries, President Trump agreed to postpone the introduction of duties for Mexico and Canada for 30 days.
Economists warn that such trade disputes could slow global economic growth and cause inflation. Stock markets in the Gulf countries reacted with a decline due to fears of a possible trade conflict. The cryptocurrency market also collapsed.
