White House Targets Temu, Shein by Cracking Down on Small Package Imports

WASHINGTON—To close a loophole that Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Temu and Shein can exploit to evade tariffs, the White House announced on Sept. 13 that it would exclude low-value imports subject to tariffs from qualifying for a fast-track customs process. Known as the de minimis rule, imports under the $800 threshold can enter the United States free of duty and taxes. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) also inspects these products minimally. The low-value package exemption was created for individuals to avoid paperwork and tariffs on items for personal use, not for commercial transactions. CBP will propose two new rules to be finalized “in the coming months,” and a new Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) rule will be finalized in the fall, according to White House senior officials. The new CPSC rule, whose public comment period on the new rule ended in February, will collect more data on de minimis shipments to improve product safety control....