Textile

US Prez Donald Trump triples tariffs on low-value imports from China

09 Apr '25
2 min read
US Prez Donald Trump triples tariffs on low-value imports from China
Pic: Shutterstock

Insights

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order tripling tariffs on Chinese goods valued under $800, raising the rate from 30 per cent to 90 per cent. The move, set to take effect on May 2, 2025, ends the ‘de minimis’ exemption and is expected to impact major e-commerce platforms and online shoppers.

Alongside the tariff hike, the executive order also increases postal processing fees on individual items. Goods valued at $800 or less will incur a flat fee of $75 per item from May 2, 2025—up from the $25 or 30 per cent of item value announced on April 2. This fee will rise further to $150 per item from June 1, 2025, replacing an earlier proposed increase to $50, as per the latest White House fact sheet.

The Trump administration maintains that these policy changes are critical for strengthening the impact of previous trade directives and preventing evasion through low-value shipments.

The White House has also announced that the US will impose an ‘additional 50 per cent tariffs’ on imports from China, raising the overall tariff rate on Chinese goods to 104 per cent. The new tariff structure, which takes effect immediately, follows Trump's recent ultimatum to Beijing, demanding the withdrawal of its 34 per cent retaliatory duties on US products.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)