Following the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on all imports—particularly those from China—e-commerce platform Temu has decided to halt shipments from China to the United States. But does this mean you can no longer shop on Temu? Here’s everything you need to know.
Temu suspends shipments from China to the U.S.
Just a few weeks ago, Temu had warned that product prices would rise due to the new tariffs. Now, the e-commerce platform has announced that, after reviewing its business model, it has decided to suspend shipments of China-made products to U.S. customers.
This move comes after the U.S. imposed steep tariffs on Chinese imports and just days after the expiration of the “minimis” exemption, which had allowed tax-free entry for packages valued under $800.
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Can I still shop on Temu?
Don’t worry! Before you panic, you should know that Temu will continue to serve U.S. customers, so you’ll still be able to buy your favorite products. However, there is one change: U.S. users will no longer see listings for products located in China or any other foreign country.
Going forward, U.S. consumers will only be able to view and purchase items labeled as “Local.” These are products that were shipped to the U.S. before the new tariffs took effect, meaning they are not subject to the new import taxes. As a result, the company will now only sell items that are already stocked in local warehouses.
Will Temu raise its prices?
Recently, the Chinese company Temu—like Shein—announced plans to increase prices due to the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China. The company stated that rising operational costs made it necessary to adjust prices in order to continue offering quality products. According to Temu, the price hikes were scheduled to begin on April 25; however, it appears they have since reversed that decision.
After announcing the suspension of shipments from China to the U.S., Temu confirmed that prices for American consumers will remain unchanged, thanks to its distribution of merchandise from local warehouses. Still, it’s unclear whether this price freeze will be permanent or if adjustments may come later.
Why are the United States and China in a tariff war?
It all began on February 1, when U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 10% tariff on all imports from China, as well as the elimination of the de minimis exemption, which had allowed the Asian country to make certain tax-free imports.
Later, on April 2, Trump ordered a 10% tariff on imports from all countries. Two days after that, China responded by imposing a reciprocal 34% tariff on all U.S. imports.
That was just the beginning. On April 8, Donald Trump increased the tariff on Chinese goods to 84% and reiterated his plan to eliminate the de minimis exemption on May 2. China did not remain idle—it then announced an 84% tariff on U.S. imports. The Trump administration responded by raising its tariffs on Chinese goods to 125%, and China matched the figure with its own 125% tariff on U.S. products.
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What are tariffs?
Tariffs are taxes imposed on the import of goods. These tariffs benefit locally manufactured products by giving them a competitive price advantage over similar imported products. They also represent a source of revenue for governments.
Why is Donald Trump imposing tariffs?
President Donald Trump has stated that tariffs are a key component of his economic strategy, as he seeks to promote manufacturing in the U.S., protect jobs, increase tax revenues, and stimulate economic growth.
Trump aims to revitalize and rebuild the U.S. manufacturing industry, which has lost many jobs over the past 40 years, largely due to the transfer of these jobs to countries with lower wages, such as Mexico or China. Additionally, the president believes that the U.S. is facing a significant trade deficit and that other nations are taking advantage of the opportunity to sell their products to U.S. consumers.
