Trump’s New Tariffs: What You Need to Know About Shein, Temu & Online Shopping (Updated)

🚨 UPDATE (Feb 7, 2025):

Good news! Trump has temporarily paused the removal of the de minimis exemption. This means that—for now—packages under $800 from China can still enter the U.S. duty-free.

However, this pause is temporary. The U.S. government is still working on new systems to enforce these tariffs in the future. That means import duties could return at any time. We’ll keep you posted on the latest updates.

(Scroll down to see the original post explaining what changed and why.)

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🚨 What’s Going On with U.S. Tariffs?

In early February 2025, the U.S. government announced new tariffs targeting imports from China. One of the biggest changes? The removal of the de minimis exemption, which previously allowed packages valued under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free. This impacted shipments from retailers like Shein, Temu, and AliExpress, requiring buyers to pay import duties upfront before their packages even reached their U.S. forwarding address.

However, as of February 7, 2025, Trump has temporarily paused this rule change. This means that—for now—packages under $800 from China and Hong Kong can still enter the U.S. without additional import duties. But this is only a temporary measure while the government works on setting up new systems to enforce tariffs in the future.

📌 What Does This Mean for Caribbean Shoppers?

Many of your favorite brands—including Shein, Temu, and AliExpress—ship products manufactured in China or Hong Kong. Previously, new U.S. import rules meant you would need to pay import duties upfront before your packages even reached MyMalls.

The U.S. has paused these rules (for now), meaning shipments under $800 from China can still enter the U.S. duty-free. However, this pause is temporary, and import duties could return at any time once the government finalizes its enforcement system.

That means you should stay prepared for potential future customs fees and shipping delays.

🛍️ How to Keep Shopping Smart!

Even though the rule is paused for now, it’s still a good idea to shop smart in case duties are reinstated:

• ✅ Keep orders under $250 – Split large purchases into smaller orders when possible.
• ✅ Check the country of manufacture – Even if you’re buying from a U.S. website, the item’s origin matters!
• ✅ Plan for possible delays – Large orders may take longer to clear customs.
• ✅ Provide accurate shipping details – Invoices should include correct descriptions, country of origin, and HTS codes (if available).

💡 MyMalls Has Your Back!

While things are back to "normal" for now, we’re keeping a close watch on these policy changes. We’ll update you as soon as anything new happens. For now:

• No extra import duties on shipments under $800 from China.
• Expect future changes—the government is working on enforcing these tariffs in the future.
• Stay updated—We’ll notify you via email, our blog, and social media if anything changes.

If you have any questions about your shipments, feel free to contact MyMalls support!

🚀 The MyMalls Team

🔗 For more information, check these official resources:
📌 White House Announcement
📌 DHL Express 1 Pager of US Regulatory Changes
📌 White House Amendment Announcement (February 7, 2025)