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Photo: iStock / Robert Way
Chinese e-commerce giants Temu and Shein have implemented price increases across their respective platforms for U.S. customers, as the back-and-forth trade war between the U.S. and China continues to escalate.
In mid-April, both Temu and fast fashion retailer Shein put out notices alerting customers of planned "price adjustments," which kicked in on April 25. According to an analysis from CNBC, Temu has since added so-called "import charges" of up to 150% for some items, with other products including added fees anywhere between 137% and 142%. On Shein's website, Bloomberg tracked price hikes ranging from 141% for eyeshadow, to 377% for kitchen towels.
A statement on Temu's website says that the new import charges "cover all customs-related processes and costs, including import fees paid to customs authorities on your behalf." A banner on Shein's website explains that tariffs have been factored into the prices of items themselves, rather than an added charge at checkout, making them difficult to tally with the actual tariff costs.
The Trump administration currently has 145% tariffs in place against Chinese products. The U.S. will also soon be ending de minimis exemptions for China, which previously allowed items valued under $800 to arrive duty-free. Dating back years, both Temu and Shein have used that exemption to get around customs charges for millions of low-value packages each day. Starting on May 2, de minimis shipments from China will be subject to either a 120% tariff or a flat $100 fee per postal item, with the flat fee increasing to $200 on June 1.
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