Budget Retailers Shein and Temu Boost Prices as Trump Tariffs Bite

( NewsNation )— Affordable retail giants Shein and Temu are continuing 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 more dramatic increases: a pack of 10 kitchen towels jumped 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 buyers. 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' exception?

U.S. consumers 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, allowing shipments with lower values to bypass specific customs documentation and avoid duties upon entry into the nation.

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

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 significantly higher price increases compared to others. Specifically, for items like home and kitchen goods as well as toys, the average cost increased over 30% between April 24 and April 25. In contrast, the pricing for women’s apparel rose by approximately 8%.

Here are some significant price increases on Shein observed 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%
Apply pressure to fingernails, shiny white: +150%
Gentle mint matte iridescent eyeshadow pencil: 141%

At Shein's checkout page, they've placed a banner stating, "All tariffs are factored into the price we show you here. There will be no additional charges when your order arrives."

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.

A note from Temu states during checkout, "Products brought into the U.S. might incur import fees," which encompass various expenses related to customs procedures as well as payments made directly to customs officials on your account.

A portable steam iron listed on the site’s most popular items section has a stated price of $25.80, however, when accounting for an additional $32.10 in import fees, the total cost rises significantly to 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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