Budget Retailers Shein and Temu Boost Prices as Trump Tariffs Bite

( NewsNation )— Affordable retail giants 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 experienced even sharper increases: a pack of 10 kitchen towels jumped up by 377%, and eyebrow gel climbed almost 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 item's worth, as reported by Bloomberg and USA Today .

Why is Trump terminating the 'de minimis' exemption?

U.S. customers were preparing for the alterations following the moves by both corporations. announced plans To increase prices at the beginning of this month, both Shein and Temu released almost identical statements explaining that their operational costs had risen because of "recent alterations in international trade policies and duties."

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

Lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum In recent years, they have advocated for changes to the de minimis rule, expressing concerns that this exception facilitates drug smuggling across national borders.

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

Which items from Shein and Temu cost more?

According to Bloomberg's examination of Shein, certain product categories experienced higher price increases compared to others. From April 24 to April 25, pricing for home and kitchen items as well as toys surged over 30%. In contrast, the cost for women’s apparel increased by approximately 8%.

Here are some significant price increases observed 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-looking eyebrow gel: +199%
Collagen moisture-locking lip balm: +180%
Ultra-fine blackhead extraction forceps: +168%
Eyelash shaper tool: +152%
Apply pressure to fingernails, shiny white: +150%
Glossy sweet mint matte pearlescent eyeliner stick: 141%

At Shein's checkout, they've placed a banner stating, "All tariffs are factored into the cost shown. There will be no additional charges upon delivery."

What is DHgate? Concerns over tariffs drive Americans to Chinese platform.

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 has an increased cost of $48.32 once you add the $27.49 in import fees to your invoice.

Products brought into the U.S. might incur import fees," notes a message from Temu during checkout. "Such charges encompass various expenses related to customs procedures as well as the import duties paid to customs officials on your behalf.

A portable steam iron listed on the site’s most popular items section has a price of $25.80, however, when you add in the $32.10 import fees, it ends up costing around $60.

Nevertheless, many products on Temu’s bestseller list are sourced from local warehouses, thus avoiding 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 import taxes and commented, "Temu won’t be for me anymore. Best wishes to everyone dealing with these duties."

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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