Prices for fast fashion and some household goods in the US are expected to rise sharply, as the de minimis exemption for imported goods valued at below $800 from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Hong Kong ended on May 2.
The de minimis loophole had allowed US consumers to buy e-commerce goods by shipping directly to their homes, avoiding charges of tariffs and fees, as well as the Customs and Border Protection importing process and paperwork. On April 2 the administration issued an Executive Order giving a 30-days notice about eliminating the de minimis exemption for Chinese imports, citing the need to curb the flow of synthetic opioids into the US.
End of e-commerce boom? Current tariffs on goods imported to the US from China are as high as 145%, which will make many goods that used this loophole more than double in price. Expected hikes in costs will likely dampen demand and slow consumption of fast fashi
myTCB® Members get exclusive access to webcasts, publications, data and analysis, plus discounts to events.
New Truce Offers Stability after US–China Trade Plummeted in 2025
November 05, 2025
Fed Signals It May Need to Pause
October 29, 2025
Fed Cut Amid Data Fog: What You Need to Know
October 28, 2025
CPI Details Give Green Light to Further Fed Rate Cuts
October 24, 2025
Rising Inflation Still Leaves Room for Fed Rate Cuts
September 26, 2025
Rising Labor Market Risks Unite the Fed to Deliver 25bps Cut
September 17, 2025
Charts
The proliferation of easy-to-use generative AI requires that policymakers and business leaders each play an important role.
LEARN MORECharts
A hyperpolarized environment, diminished trust in our nation’s leaders.
LEARN MOREIN THE NEWS
Denise Dahlhoff on How CEOs Are Talking About Tariffs—without Saying “Tarif…
May 21, 2025
IN THE NEWS
Erin McLaughlin on Tariff Policy
April 07, 2025
IN THE NEWS
Erin McLaughlin on Reshoring Factors
April 05, 2025
IN THE NEWS
Erin McLaughlin on US Reshoring
April 02, 2025
IN THE NEWS
Erin McLaughlin: How policy uncertainty may exacerbate infrastructure chall…
March 19, 2025
IN THE NEWS
Erin McLaughlin discusses the latest on tariff policy
March 14, 2025