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 surged by 51%, as reported. Data gathered by Bloomberg News Some items experienced even sharper 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 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 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, allowing shipments with lower values 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 updating 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.

What 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 of women’s apparel increased by about 8% during this period.

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 plus 219% improvement:
Manual chicken/meat shredder: +210%
Wax strips along with after-waxing wipes: +205%
Natural-looking eyebrow gel: +199%
Collagen crack-resistant lip balm: +180%
Ultra-fine blackhead extraction forceps: +168%
Eyelash shaper tool: +152%
Apply pressure to nail tips, shiny white: +150%
Gentle mint matte iridescent eyeshadow pencil: 141%

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

What is DHgate? Americans are turning to the Chinese platform amid 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 ends up costing $48.32 once you add the $27.49 in import fees to your invoice.

A note from Temu states at checkout, "Products brought into the U.S. might incur import fees," which encompass various expenses related to customs procedures and costs, such as import duties settled with customs officials on your behalf.

A portable steam iron listed on the site’s top-seller list was priced at $25.80, though the total cost balloons up to around $60 when you add in $32.10 for import fees.

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.

To stay updated with the most recent news, weather forecasts, sporting events, and live streams, visit Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).