De minimis: US small parcels loophole closes pushing up Shein, Temu prices

Shein and Temu prices rise as Trump closes postage loophole 8 hours ago Share Save Peter Hoskins Business reporter Share Save Getty Images A duty-free loophole for low-value packages has been closed by President Donald Trump, pushing up prices for US customers of firms like Shein and Temu. The Chinese online retail giants relied on the so-called "de minimis" exemption to sell and ship low-value items directly to the US without having to pay duties or import taxes. Supporters of the loophole, which applied to parcels worth less than $800 (£600), argue it helped streamline the customs process. But both Trump and his predecessor, Joe Biden, said it damaged American businesses and was used to smuggle illegal goods, including drugs. What was the de minimis exemption? De minimis is a Latin term, which loosely translates to English as "of the smallest". In this context it refers to a US trade rule enacted by Congress in 1938 to avoid the expense of collecting only small amounts of import ... Read full article.