Temu Blocks U.S. Customers from Purchasing Chinese Goods Amid Tariff Changes
In a significant policy shift, online retailer Temu has ceased allowing U.S. customers to purchase items directly from Chinese sellers now burdened with a hefty 145 percent tariff. This decision follows the expiration of the de minimis rule, which previously exempted imports valued at $800 or less from duties and tariffs, as reported by CNBC.
Former President Donald Trump abolished this policy, asserting that it was essential to combat the influx of dangerous substances into the United States. “President Trump is targeting deceptive shipping practices by Chinese-based shippers, many of whom hide illicit substances, including synthetic opioids, in low-value packages to exploit the de minimis exemption,” stated the White House in a fact sheet.
During a Cabinet meeting, Trump emphasized, “It’s a big scam going on against our country, against really small businesses. And we’ve ended, we put an end to it,” according to The New York Times.
Initially, Temu indicated it would raise prices for American consumers; however, it has since opted to simply mark items from Chinese sellers as out of stock. A Temu representative claimed that local sellers would now fulfill orders “from within the country.”
Temu is only showing US shoppers ‘local’ content, or stuff that’s already housed in warehouses here. But that means reduced selection and favorite items being pulled from the site. https://t.co/qUDrh2RIBf
— PCMag (@PCMag) May 2, 2025
“Temu has been actively recruiting U.S. sellers to join the platform,” the representative added, suggesting that the initiative aims to bolster local merchants’ visibility and business growth. However, it is worth noting that Temu had strategically accumulated inventory of China-made goods in anticipation of such tariff escalations and the imminent collapse of the de minimis loophole.
According to Wired, many products labeled as ‘Local’ had already been imported before the new tariffs took effect. While Temu has not yet increased its prices, rival retailer Shein has incorporated the tariffs into its pricing structure, as noted by CNBC.
Kim Glas, president of the National Council of Textile Organizations, emphasized that the loophole previously exploited had allowed “unsafe and illegal Chinese goods” into the U.S. According to The New York Times, Glas remarked that “today’s action by the administration is an important step forward to help rebalance the playing field for American manufacturers.”
Local sellers are not made in the US. Temu should support bringing the manufacturing back to the US…
— Richard (@dearenn) May 2, 2025
According to The Washington Post, orders from Temu and Shein constitute approximately 30 percent of the packages shipped to the U.S. daily, based on data from the Peterson Institute. Furthermore, a report from House Republicans estimated that nearly half of the de minimis shipments entering the country originated from China.
This article originally appeared on The Western Journal.
