International trade, both physical and online, is being shaken by the tariff policy of Donald Trump. One of its latest measures, which entered into force on May 2, has been eliminate minimis exemption for imports from products from China and Hong Kong.
The minimis are a Reference Monetary threshold that establishes the exemption of tariff payments If the value of the imported merchandise is below this. In the case of the United Statesminimmis exemption was applied to shipments with a value of up to $ 800.
The existence of the minimis not only simplified customs procedures for low value shipments, but also It was one of the cornerstones on which Chinese marketplaces were founded like Temu or Shein. These platforms base their strategy on offering products at extremely low prices and, until now, the minimis served to avoid tariffs and be able to maintain this price policy in the US market.
Temu will stop sending Chinese products to the US after the elimination of minimis
In the blink of an eye, the United States has completely changed the rules of the import game. The Trump administration has applied tariffs to various countries and territorieswhich has resulted in several of these responding with equally iron measures. Among these contests Stresses and loosen between the United States and Chinathat has been climbing until they impose each tariffs of more than 100% to the other.
This increase in tariffs on Chinese products imported to the US, added to the recent suppression of the minimis, have caused Chinese giant as Shein They are forced to rethink your strategies and even increase your prices. Likewise, these measures They have also impacted US companies that marketed Chinese products at low cost, as Amazon and his Amazon Haul service.
In the case of Temuthe Marketplace of Chinese origin He has decided to suspend products from China to the United States. And, in recent days, American buyers were with import positions between 130% and 150% when trying to acquire these products on the platform.
Now, those who access Temu in the United States, You can only buy local sellers whose warehouses are in the countrysince the articles sent from China are marked as exhausted. The platform has affirmed that prices of American merchants products They remain without alterations of any kind.
It should be noted that Temu It was the Retail app more downloaded worldwide in 2024exceeding outstanding competitors such as Amazon, Aliexpress or Shein. So it will be interesting to pay attention to its evolution in the coming months and to the effect that the new direction you have had to take in the US may have about its results.
The EU also plans to eliminate its own exemptions
In 2024, 4.6 billion shipments of little value (goods with a cost below € 150) They entered the market of The European Unionwhich means 12 million packages a day. These data double those registered in 2023 and triple those of 2022. Likewise, it should be noted that 91% of these shipments came from China.
In addition to provoking Environmental and competition concerns With respect to European retailers, the European Commission emphasizes that Many of these products do not comply with European legislation.
Given this situation, the European Union It has been studying the elimination of their own minimis for a while, although in this context they do not receive this name. The objective of the EU is to stop and regulate the mass import of Shipments of little value (goods that do not exceed € 150), which are exempt from tariffs.
To do this, it has been proposed suspend the exemption of rights for packages of less than € 150 and reinforce control capabilities through data exchange and risk assessment. In addition to this, the creation of a Non -discriminatory management rate for eCommerce shipments Imported directly by consumers from outside the EU, regardless of its origin or value.
Other measures raised They are: carrying out coordinated controls between customs and market surveillance authorities; reinforce compliance with regulations such as GDPR, DMA or DSA; Product digital passport implementation; Promote the adoption of the Ecodesign Regulation for Sustainable Products and the amendment of the Directive on Waste; launch awareness campaigns and reinforce collaboration with business partners.
Photo: GPT-4O
