The USA Postal Service introduced Tuesday evening 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 usually are not included within the suspension, it stated.
The postal service didn’t present a motive for the suspension or say how lengthy it expects it to final.
Earlier Tuesday, Beijing introduced it could counter President Trump’s new 10% tariff on Chinese language items with retaliatory tariffs of its personal. China stated beginning subsequent Monday it could implement a 15% tariff on coal and liquefied pure fuel merchandise together with a ten% tariff on crude oil, agricultural equipment and large-engine vehicles imported from the U.S.
Mr. Trump’s tariff enhance 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 america with out paying duties or sure taxes.
But it surely has confronted scrutiny because of a surge in shipments claiming the exemption in recent times.
U.S. officers pointed to the expansion of Chinese language-founded on-line retailers Shein and Temu as a key issue behind this enhance — and Tuesday’s halt might delay parcels from each corporations from coming into the nation.
U.S. officers have additionally stated the expansion in shipments makes it tougher to display screen items for safety dangers.
Mr. Trump says he plans to talk with Chinese language President Xi Jinping within the coming days.