US Postal Service suspends packages from China – what we know

The US Post Service has suspended all incoming packages from China and Hong Kong as President Donald Trump rams the US-China trade war.

Newsweek reached out to the White House, the US Postal Service and the Chinese Embassy in Washington with E -Mail requests about comment outside office hours.

Why it matters

The message came on Tuesday when a 10-percent duty increase in Chinese imports came into force. Trump has defended the increase-and the now delayed tariffs on Mexico and Canada-as necessary to prevent the deadly opioid fentanyl and other drugs from entering the United States

The United States has called on China to do more to stop shipments of key ingredients used to produce fentanyl. Beijing says it has already intensified its crashes and says that the demand for the drug narcoticidemic is to blame for the narcoticsidemic.

What to know

“With effect from February 4, the Postal Service will temporarily suspend the international parcel acceptance of incoming parcels from China and Hong Kong positions so far,” the US Post Service wrote on its website.

The suspension does not extend to letters and apartments.

It may be related to the executive order that Trump signed Saturday that the ditch they minimis Tax exemption for US bound shipments worth less than $ 800. Excluded Hong Kong was estimated to take into account one -third of such shipments in 2023, according to Congressional Research Service.

The National Foreign Trade Council has warned that the move would put greater tax and inflation press on small businesses.

Another disadvantage, warned the union would be to “move CBP’s focus away from the border, where a vast majority of illegal drugs and products enter the country.”

China has responded to Trump’s customs rise in export restrictions on strategic metals such as tungsten, an anti-monopoly probe for Google and planned against-duty on crude oil, machines and large cars.

What people say

Donald Trump wrote in an executive order 1 February: “The flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl to the United States through both illegal distribution networks and international mail – in relation to the latter to the existing administrative exemption from duty and taxes, also known as they minimis (…) have created a public health crisis in the United States. “

Jason Smith, President of House Ways and Means Committee, said in a statement: “President Trump ensures that China can no longer avoid current tariffs by simply revenue while the unreasonable deterioration of US producers.”

Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Shanghai’s Fudan University, the Chinese state media outcome told Global times: “Many of the small items they (Americans) buy from China through online shopping are affordable and of good quality playing an important role in meeting their daily needs. If this supply is suddenly cut off, it will be harmful to consumers . ”

What is the next?

The suspension is likely to affect Chinese e-commerce giants like Temu and Shein, both of which have seen their market shares soar In the United States in recent years.

The relocation could also increase costs and waiting times for US consumers, Kate Muth, CEO of International Mailers Advisory Group, told Washington Post.

“The expectation is that you pay more as a consumer and it may take a little longer to reach you,” she said.