Budget Retailers Shein and Temu Boost Prices as Trump Tariffs Bite

( NewsNation ) — Affordable retail stores Shein and Temu are following through on plans To increase prices because of President Trump’s tariffs, causing some items to nearly double in cost over the past few days.

Last week, the average cost of the top 100 beauty and wellness items on Shein increased by 51%, as reported. Data gathered by Bloomberg News . Some items saw even steeper hikes: a 10-piece set of kitchen towels surged 377%, while eyebrow gel rose nearly 200%.

In the meantime, the Chinese retail app Temu seems to be transferring "almost all" of President Trump's new import duties directly to American shoppers. Bloomberg said The firm has begun including "import fees" that, in certain instances, surpass the worth of the item itself, as reported by Bloomberg and USA Today .

Why is Trump terminating the 'de minimis' exemption?

U.S. consumers were preparing for the alterations following the moves made by both corporations. announced plans To increase prices at the beginning of this month, both Shein and Temu released remarkably similar statements citing higher operational costs resulting from "recent alterations in international trade policies and duties."

The pricing adjustments began on April 25, just a week prior to the expiration of the "de minimis" threshold. This regulation allowed shipments with low values to bypass specific customs documentation and be imported without duties.

Lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum have advocated for updating the de minimis provision in recent years, expressing concerns that the exemption facilitates drug smuggling into the nation.

Trump eliminated the exception for products coming from China and Hong Kong. slapped a 145% tariff on many Chinese imports.

What items from Shein and Temu cost more?

According to Bloomberg's examination of Shein, certain product categories experienced greater price increases compared to others. Specifically, for items like home and kitchen goods as well as toys, average costs surged over 30% between April 24 and April 25. In contrast, the increase for women’s apparel was around 8%.

Here are some of the most significant price increases on Shein between April 24 and April 25, as reported by Bloomberg:

Heavy-duty dish drying cloths: +377%
Brush for sealing gaps in air conditioning: +219%
Manual chicken/meat shredder: +210%
Wax strips along with after-waxing wipes: +205%
Natural finish eyebrow gel: +199%
Collagen lip balm for preventing cracks: +180%
Ultra-fine blackhead extraction forceps: +168%
Eyelash shaper tool: +152%
Press on toenails, glossy white: +150%
Glossy sweet mint matte pearlescent eyeshadow pencil: 141%

At Shein's checkout page, they've placed a banner stating, "All tariffs are encompassed within the cost displayed. You won’t face additional charges upon delivery."

What is DHgate? Americans are turning to the Chinese platform due to tariff concerns.

Temu

It seems Temu is adopting a somewhat distinct strategy by adding import fees during the check-out process.

For instance, a versatile 14-in-1 power strip priced at $19.34 on Monday sees an increase to $48.32 once you add the $27.49 in import fees to your invoice.

“A Temu notice at checkout states, ‘Products brought into the U.S. might incur import fees,’ which encompass various expenses related to customs procedures as well as payments made to customs officials on your behalf,” explains the message.

A portable steam iron listed on the website as one of their top sellers has a price tag of $25.80, however, when you add in the approximately $32.10 in import fees, the total cost comes out to around $60.

Nevertheless, many products on Temu’s bestseller list are sourced from local warehouses and do not incur extra import fees.

Shoppers have flooded the “TemuThings” Subreddits have recently been used as platforms for people to express their frustration. one post A user posted an image of their purchase receipt showing the import duty and commented, "Temu won’t be getting my business anymore. Best wishes to everyone dealing with these tariffs."

In another post, a user wrote Goodbye Temu, it was enjoyable while it lasted.

Neither Temu nor Shein promptly replied to NewsNation’s request for comment on Monday.

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