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 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 item's worth, as reported by Bloomberg. USA Today .

Why is Trump terminating the 'de minimis' exemption?

U.S. customers were preparing for the alterations following the actions of both businesses. 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 low values to bypass specific customs documentation and avoid duties when entering the nation.

Lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum In recent years, they have urged for reforms to the de minimis rule, expressing concerns that this 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.

What items from Shein and Temu cost more money?

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 items like home and kitchen goods 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:

Extra plush kitchen cleanup cloths: +377%
Brush for sealing gaps in air conditioning: +219%
Manual chicken/meat shredder: +210%
Wax strips along with post-wax wipes: +205%
Eyebrow gel for a natural look: +199%
Collagen moisture-locking 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 page, they've placed a banner stating, "All tariffs are encompassed within the payment amount. You won’t be charged additional fees upon delivery."

What is DHgate? Americans are turning to the Chinese platform due to tariff concerns.

Temu

Temu appears to be taking a slightly different approach, tacking on import charges at checkout.

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 all related customs procedures and expenses, such as import duties handled on your behalf for customs officials.

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 import fees, the total cost climbs up to around $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 import duties 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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