Lifting a ban on a day earlier, US Postal Service Flip flops on Hong Kong-China Packages

Hong Kong (AP) – The US Postal Service turns course one day after posting a ban on all incoming mail and packages from China and Hong Kong.

The post office announced on Tuesday that it would no longer accept packages from China and Hong Kong after the United States imposed an additional 10% duty on Chinese goods and ended a customs exemption that allowed small securities to enter the US without paying taxes.

The postal service gave no reason for the reversing, but said it would work with customs and border protection to implement a collection process for the new China tariffs to avoid interference with delivery.

The post office pointed to the short prepared statement of reversing when he was asked for more details Wednesday by Associated Press.

The ban had the potential to create huge disorders for online shopping platforms such as Shein and Temu, popular among younger shoppers in the US for cheap clothing and other products that are usually sent directly from China.

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Cheap, Direct Post Service helps these companies keep costs low, just as the “De Minimis” exemption, which previously enabled shipments to go tax -free if their value is below $ 800.

The suspension of USPS would probably have created delays in shipments and potentially higher prices for the companies that rely on rock-bottom prices for a large sale.

What exactly announced USPS?

One day after the US Post Service said in a message it would stop accepting incoming packages from China and Hong Kong positions so far, it said Wednesday that it would “continue to accept all international incoming mail and packages from China and Hong Kong. ”

Letter and apartments – Mail measuring up to 15 inches (38 centimeters) long or 3/4 inches (1.9 centimeters) thick – was not included in the short ban.

Why did it happen?

The USPS did not give a reason for the ban on Tuesday, but the suspension came after Trump closed “De Minimis” duty exemption this week, which allowed customers and importers to avoid duties on packages worth less than $ 800.

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The exception was removed as part of a executive order to charge a 10% duty on Chinese goods.

US customs and border protection previously said it treats an average of over four million “de minimis” imports each week.

It also gave no reason to his decision on Wednesday and did not immediately respond to the requests of the Associated Press of comment.