Tariffs and the End of the Chinese Ecommerce Bargain Bonanza

The de minimis provision, in place since 2016, had allowed goods valued at $800 or less to be imported into the U.S. duty-free if shipped directly to consumers. That exemption, which facilitated the rise of cut-rate Chinese marketplaces such as Temu and fast-fashion rival Shein, expired at 12:01 a.m. Eastern on Friday, following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in April.