The US Postal Service (USPS) says it has briefly stopped accepting parcels from mainland China and Hong Kong.
Letters is not going to be affected by the suspension, in accordance with a press release on the corporate’s web site.
USPS mentioned the suspension might be in place “till additional discover” and didn’t provide a motive for the choice.
It comes after US President Donald Trump imposed a further 10% tariff on all items imported to the US from China.
Trump’s government order eradicated an exemption that allowed items value $800 (£641) or much less to enter the US with out having to pay duties or sure taxes.
The so-called “de minimis” tax loophole confronted elevated scrutiny in recent times as Chinese language e-commerce giants like Shein and Temu to succeed in thousands and thousands of US clients.
In response China mentioned it could implement tariffs on some US imports.
From 10 February coal and liquefied pure fuel merchandise (LNG) will face a 15% levy. Crude oil, agricultural equipment and large-engine automobiles might be topic to a ten% tariff.
President Trump is anticipated to talk to his Chinese language counterpart Xi Jinping within the coming days.
“Trump’s tariff modifications are particularly sharp if items had been beforehand shipped by way of e-commerce instantly from China to the US,” mentioned commerce professional Deborah Elms.
Near half of all parcels coming into the US below de minimis had been despatched from China, in accordance with a 2023 report by the US Congressional committee on China.
US officers have identified that the massive movement of parcels coming into the nation by way of this exemption made it more and more troublesome to display screen them for doable unlawful items.
The BBC has contacted USPS to request extra particulars concerning the resolution.
