USPS Resumes Package Acceptance from China and Hong Kong Amid Trade Tensions
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has resumed accepting packages from China and Hong Kong after a brief suspension triggered by President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on Chinese goods. The temporary halt, announced on Tuesday, was lifted on Wednesday as USPS stated it would “continue accepting all international inbound mail and packages” while working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to implement an efficient collection mechanism for the new tariffs. The move aims to minimize disruptions to package delivery.
The suspension followed Trump’s decision to eliminate the “de minimis” exemption, which allowed goods valued at $800 or less to enter the U.S. duty-free. This exemption had been widely used by Chinese e-commerce giants like Shein and Temu to ship low-cost products to American consumers. The surge in such shipments has raised concerns about unfair competition for domestic retailers and potential security risks, as the high volume of packages makes it harder to screen for illegal goods.
China criticized the suspension as “unreasonable suppression” and retaliated by announcing its own tariffs on U.S. goods, including coal, liquefied natural gas, and agricultural machinery. Meanwhile, U.S. officials have pointed to the rapid growth of Chinese-founded online retailers as a key factor behind the increase in de minimis shipments, which now account for nearly half of all such imports into the U.S.
The resumption of package deliveries comes as the U.S. and China navigate escalating trade tensions. While letters and large envelopes were unaffected by the suspension, the changes to the de minimis rule are expected to impact the business models of Chinese e-commerce platforms, potentially leading to higher costs for U.S. consumers. The EU has also taken steps to address similar concerns, announcing increased customs checks and investigations into Shein for potential consumer protection violations.
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The U.S. Postal Service reversed a Tuesday decision that could have blocked or delayed parcels from Shein, Temu and other companies from entering the
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Less than 24 hours after the USPS announced the temporary suspension, the agency has changed course again.
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