President Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order suspending what’s known as a de minimis exemption allowing low-value parcels that are shipped to the United States to avoid tariffs.
The White House said it’s closing what it called a “catastrophic loophole” that shippers use to “evade tariffs and funnel deadly synthetic opioids or below-market products” into the U.S. The order goes into effect Aug. 29.
The exemption had applied to parcels valued at $800 or less, and allowed overseas retailers to ship inexpensive goods to consumers in the U.S. tax-free.
Mr. Trump in May ended the de minimis loophole for imports from China and Hong Kong, which had allowed retailers like Shein and Temu to ship ultra low-cost apparel and other goods to U.S.-based consumers at bargain-basement prices.
— This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
