U.S. to cut tariffs on small packages from China to as low as 30%
Global News
The order lowering 'de minimis' levies offers some relief to big Chinese e-commerce players Shein and Temu and follows a weekend tariff deal between Beijing and Washington.
The U.S. will cut the “de minimis” tariff for low-value shipments from China to as low as 30%, according to a White House executive order and industry experts, further de-escalating a potentially damaging trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
The order published late on Monday offers some relief to big Chinese e-commerce players Shein and Temu and follows a weekend deal between Beijing and Washington to unwind for 90 days most of the tit-for-tat tariffs imposed on each other’s goods since early April.
While their joint statement following talks in Geneva did not mention the de minimis duties, the order signed by President Donald Trump said levies for those direct-to-consumer postal shipments will be reduced to 54% from 120% for items valued at up to $800, starting on Wednesday. An alternative flat fee of $100 per postal package remains in effect, but a planned June 1 increase to $200 was cancelled.
There are different rules for packages handled by commercial delivery firms such as United Parcel Service, FedEx and DHL, which shipped millions of Shein and Temu packages before Trump ended duty-free status for Chinese shipments valued under $800.
The rate for those packages now defaults to the reduced U.S. tariff rate of 30% from 145% for Chinese imports, two delivery experts told Reuters on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution.
The 30% rate reflects the Trump administration’s decision to cut China’s “reciprocal” duty rate to 10% from 145%, plus a separate 20% duty related to the U.S. fentanyl crisis.
The White House and the U.S. Trade Representative’s office did not immediately respond to a request for clarification.
Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CNBC on Tuesday that the 10% global duty rate would likely remain in place to help rebuild the U.S. manufacturing base.
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