Shein orders resume: US Postal Service restores inbound packages from China and Hong Kong after suspension

On Tuesday night February 4th, the US Postal Service announced that it will temporarily suspend inbound packages shipped by China and Hong Kong Posts. However, earlier this morning they said that they will continue to accept those packages.

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Although the US Postal service did not give a reason at the beginning of the suspension, it is suggested to be because of the broad-based new tariffs imposed (10% on Chinese goods) and elimination of the de minimis exemption. This exemption allowed everyone to ship packages worth less than $800 to the US without any need o inspections or duties.

Shein, Temu and AliExpress in trouble

This suspension affected companies like Shein, Temu and AliExpress the most; given that their business model is based on this exemption, which have allowed more than a billion packages to pour into the US at low prices.

People love these companies for a simple reason: their low prices, but the new tariffs imposed by President Trump will change that. The relaxed restrictions and tax exemptions on cheap products were the ideal environment for this kind of business to flourish.

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However, because the US has reversed a long-standing shipping loophole, the “de minimis” exemption; packages worth less than $800 will now have to pay duties and undergo inspections which will make it a tedious and expensive process.

China retallies against Trump’s sanctions

Given that the new measures will hit Chinese shipments the hardest, China has retaliated against the new Trump tariffs with a broad package of economic measures that will take effect on February 10th

• This including: a 15% tax on certain types of coal and liquefied natural gas
• 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, large-displacement cars, and pickup trucks.