America Postal Service introduced Tuesday night time that it’s quickly suspending accepting packages despatched from China and Hong Kong till additional discover.
The suspension is efficient instantly, the USPS stated. Letters and flats should not included within the suspension, it stated.
The postal service didn’t present a purpose for the suspension or say how lengthy it expects it to final.
Earlier Tuesday, Beijing introduced it might counter President Trump’s new 10% tariff on Chinese goods with retaliatory tariffs of its personal. China stated beginning subsequent Monday it might implement a 15% tariff on coal and liquefied pure fuel merchandise together with a ten% tariff on crude oil, agricultural equipment and large-engine automobiles imported from the U.S.
Mr. Trump’s tariff improve additionally eradicated a duty-free exemption for low-value packages coming from China. The “de minimis” exemption permits items valued at $800 or under to come back into the US with out paying duties or sure taxes.
But it surely has confronted scrutiny on account of a surge in shipments claiming the exemption lately.
U.S. officers pointed to the expansion of Chinese language-founded on-line retailers Shein and Temu as a key issue behind this improve — and Tuesday’s halt might delay parcels from each corporations from getting into the nation.
U.S. officers have additionally stated the expansion in shipments makes it more durable to display screen items for safety dangers.
Mr. Trump says he plans to talk with Chinese language President Xi Jinping within the coming days.
