Temu halts China shipments to the U.S. as tariff exemption ends
Temu has halted its shipments from China to the U.S. following the end of the "de minimis" tariff exemption.
Temu, the popular e-commerce platform, has announced that it will stop shipping products from China to the U.S. following the expiration of the "de minimis" tariff exemption.
This change marks a significant shift in how Temu conducts its business, especially as the platform moves to prioritize U.S.-based sellers.
What is the "de minimis" loophole?
The "de minimis" exemption, previously allowed foreign companies like Temu, Shein and AliExpress to ship products not too expensive (under $800 specifically) to the United States without any kind of tariffs.
After the "de minimis" loophole was revoked, many foreign companies like Temu and Shein have had to make policy changes. Photo: Business Insider
For many businesses, this loophole played a key role in making them profitable, especially those that relied on affordable international shipping.
Temu's shift to domestic sales
After the new tariff changes, Temu has updated its website and app to only show products that are stocked in U.S. warehouses.
A spokesperson for the company has stated that every single sale to U.S. customers are going to be fulfilled locally. This is part of Temu's new strategy to help local merchants reach a larger audience and ensure prices for U.S. customers remain the same even after the tariffs
