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 surged 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 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 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 a week prior to the expiration of the "de minimis" threshold. This policy allowed shipments with lower values to bypass specific customs documentation and be imported without duties.

Lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum have advocated for changing the de minimis rule 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.

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 about 8% during this period.

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

Extra plush kitchen cleaning cloths: +377%
Brush for sealing gaps in air conditioning: +219%
Manual chicken/meat shredder: +210%
Wax strips along with post-wax wipes: +205%
Natural-looking eyebrow gel: +199%
Collagen crack-preventing lip balm: +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 cost you see here. There will be no 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 when you reach the checkout stage.

For instance, a versatile 14-in-1 power strip priced at $19.34 on Monday sees an increase to $48.32 once $27.49 in import fees are included in the total cost.

Products brought into the U.S. might incur import fees," notes a message from Temu during checkout. "These fees encompass various expenses related to customs procedures, such as payments made to customs officials on your behalf.

A portable steam iron listed on the site’s best-selling page was priced at $25.80, though the total expense balloons up to around $60 when you add in the $32.10 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 getting my business 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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