Overview
- The U.S. government has closed the de minimis exemption, effective May 2, imposing tariffs of 90% of package value or a flat fee starting at $75, rising to $150 after June 1.
- Chinese e-commerce platforms like Shein, Temu, and TikTok Shop face significant challenges as their U.S. business models relied on duty-free imports under the $800 threshold.
- TikTok Shop has alerted its U.S. merchants about the changes and is pivoting towards European markets to mitigate the impact of the new tariffs.
- Supply chain experts warn of operational disruptions, including overwhelmed ports and delays, due to the massive volume of packages now subject to tariffs.
- Companies are increasingly utilizing AI tools to monitor trade policy changes and adapt strategies in real time to navigate the evolving tariff landscape.