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 leading 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 up by 377%, and eyebrow gel shot up 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 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 made by both corporations. announced plans To increase prices at the beginning of this month, both Shein and Temu released almost identical statements indicating 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, a policy allowing items below a specific value to bypass particular customs documentation and be imported without duties.

Lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum In recent years, they have urged for changes to the de minimis provision, expressing concerns that this exemption facilitates the smuggling of narcotics 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 higher price increases compared to others. From April 24 to April 25, the cost of home and kitchen items as well as toys surged over 30%. In contrast, the pricing for women’s apparel increased by only about 8%.

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

At checkout, Shein has placed a banner stating, "All tariffs are encompassed within the payment amount. You will not be required to make additional payments 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 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 customs procedures and expenses, as well as import duties that are settled with customs officials on your behalf.

A portable steam iron listed on the website’s bestseller page has a price of $25.80; however, when you add in the $32.10 in import fees, the cost rises to approximately $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 tax and commented, "Temu won’t be for me 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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