US Triples Tariffs on Chinese Packages Amid Currency Crisis
Cross-border e-commerce is shocked!
Eastern time on April 8, according to the latest reciprocal tariff amendment issued by the White House, the United States will impose a 90% import tax on imported goods priced at no more than $800, which is higher than the previously proposed 30% ad valorem tax.
On April 2, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that will no longer provide duty-free treatment for goods from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong under $800 starting May 2, and related goods will be subject to tariffs of 30% of their value or $25 per item, increasing to $50 per item after June 1, 2025.
According to the latest amendment, the ad valorem tax rate for small parcels priced below US$800 will be increased from 30% to 90%.
The amended version also shows that the tariff on each postal item on goods entering the country after May 2 but before June 1 will be increased from the originally planned $25 to $75; packages entering after June 1 will be charged $150 per piece instead of the previously announced $50.
More than 90 percent of all packages currently entering the U.S. come through the small amount exemption system, and about 60 percent of them come from China, dominated by retail e-commerce companies such as Temu and Shein.
It is understood that at present, many freight forwarding companies mainly engaged in American routes have issued a suspension of receiving and sending goods to the United States.
At around 4 o'clock on April 9, Beijing time, the offshore yuan fell to 7.4290 against the US dollar, hitting a record low. At the same time, the onshore renminbi also fell to its lowest level against the US dollar since September 2023.
Yesterday, the Information Office of the State Council released a white paper entitled "China's Position on Several Issues Concerning China-US Economic and Trade Relations" to clarify the facts of China-US economic and trade relations and clarify China's policy position on relevant issues. The Ministry of Commerce will hold a press conference at 3 p.m. today.
