U.S. Announces Tripled Tariffs on Low-Value Shipments from China
Washington, April 8 (local time) — According to the latest amendment to the reciprocal tariff policy released by the White House, the U.S. will levy a 90% import tax on imports valued at up to $800, up from the previously proposed 30% ad valorem tax.
Key Revisions in the Amended Bill:
On April 2, President Donald Trump signed an executive order stating that starting May 2, goods from mainland China and Hong Kong will no longer qualify for the 800deminimisexemption∗∗.Instead,theseimportswillface∗∗3025 per item, increasing to 50peritem∗∗after∗∗June1,2025∗∗.2.Undertherevisedproposal,theadvaloremtaxrateforsmallparcels(under800) will jump from 30% to 90%.
3. For shipments entering between May 2 and June 1, the per-item tariff will rise from 25to75. After June 1, tariffs will increase further to 150peritem∗∗(upfromtheinitiallyproposed50).
Impact Analysis:
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Over 90% of all U.S. inbound parcels currently benefit from the de minimis exemption, with approximately 60% originating from China. These shipments are predominantly dominated by e-commerce giants like Temu and Shein.
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The amendments signal a significant escalation in U.S. trade policies targeting low-cost imports, particularly from Chinese retailers.
According to industry sources, numerous freight forwarding companies specializing in U.S.-bound routes have suspended the acceptance and dispatch of shipments to the United States.
Currency Update:
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At around 4:00 AM Beijing time on April 9, the offshore yuan (CNH) plummeted to 7.4290 per U.S. dollar, hitting a historical low.
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Simultaneously, the onshore yuan (CNY) exchange rate also dropped to its lowest level since September 2023.
