Trump Goes After China’s Unfair Trade Practices

What’s happening: President Donald Trump recently signed executive orders containing language targeting a longstanding trade provision that allowed Chinese e-commerce giants like Temu and Shein to dominate the US market without having to declare billions of dollars worth of goods through customs.

• The terms: A 25 percent tariff was placed on goods from Canada and Mexico, while China faced a 10 percent tax. More importantly, the tariffs aim to close the “de minimis loophole” used by China to exploit the American market.

The loophole: The de minimis exemption, which has existed since the 1930s, allowed small goods under $800 to enter the US without tariffs or a customs declaration. This provision was intended for items like souvenirs or personal gifts, but with the rise of Chinese e-commerce, it became a gateway for massive imports of low-cost items, especially from Shein and Temu, which are ultra-low-cost retailers.

• Avoiding taxes: In 2024, over 1.4 billion packages were processed through the de minimis loophole, creating a massive influx of unregulated and un-tariffed goods.

Big picture: This loophole allowed Chinese companies to undercut other major retailers like Gap and H&M, who pay millions in import duties and comply with safety regulations. Shein, for example, can sell $5 sundresses and $3 shoes, bypassing the tariffs and safety inspections subject to other companies, giving them a significant competitive edge.

Drug smuggling: An investigation by Reuters concluded that many of the packages being shipped to the US from China contain precursor materials for fentanyl, responsible for nearly 100,000 American deaths every year.

• Lax security: One of the advantages of the de minimis exception is that such small parcels are not screened at US ports of entry, meaning poisonous chemicals can easily pass into the country.

Why it matters: The de minimis loophole allowed foreign e-commerce giants to flood the US market without paying tariffs or complying with rigorous safety screenings, putting American lives at risk and businesses at a severe disadvantage. Closing this loophole ensures a more equitable marketplace and strengthens American retail.