The US Postal Service (USPS) has stopped accepting packages from mainland China and Hong Kong “until further notice”, because new rules have concluded a Maas in the law that makes tax -free imports of goods possible.
The suspension comes in the midst of rising tensions between the US and China, fueled by the announcement of former President Donald Trump of an extra rate of 10% on all imports from the country.
A policy that is known as “the minimis”, previously allowed packages worth less than $ 800 (about £ 640) to go tax -free in the US. Chinese fast-fashion giants such as Shein and Temu have used this exemption to feed explosive growth, send cheap items to millions of American customers without customs costs. Similar The minimis rules also apply to the UK, where the entry threshold is £ 135, and within the EU for goods under € 150 (£ 124).
However, the rise in package volumes – half of which comes from China – brought officials to clamp, referring to increased risks of illegal or non -regulated goods sliding through customs. USPS said letters are not influenced by the suspension, but refused to give a detailed explanation.
The shift in American policy reflects similar movements around the world. The EU has announced plans to strengthen controls on goods from e-commerce locations, which to approach Shein and Temu as liable for unsafe or substandard products that are sold on their platforms. It has also launched a coordinated probe in Shein’s compliance with European consumer laws.
This action on tax -free import is part of a broader escalation in trade tensions. Beijing, in turn, has threatened to impose retaliation taxes on selected American brands, including PVH (the parent company of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger). In the meantime, China has promoted its own AI-driven and autonomous weapon capacities, so that the Western authorities express concerns about trading balances and security threats.
Nick Stowe, Chief Executive of British brands Monsoon & Accessorize, welcomed the changes in the American rules and argued that the old system unfairly biased online retailers could send those goods freely. “It has long been a complaint from British and European retailers who operates Shein de Maas in the law, does not pay customs duties and has built up a company on an industrial scale,” he said.
The tumultuous condition of American trade shows few signs of relaxing. Conversations between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping got stuck, with the former American leader said he was in “no hurry” to open new negotiations. Increasing cross -border tensions is concerned about a possible wider trade war with consequences that go much further than just fast fashion.