Temu adds 'import charges' after Trump tariffs: What to know

White House asked about Amazon decision to report tariff add-on costs

The White House was holding a press briefing Tuesday morning with press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to mark President Trump’s 100th day in office and speak on his economic accomplishments when they were asked about Amazon’s reported decision.

Temu has implemented an "import charge" for some products sold to customers in the U.S. amid President Donald Trump’s tariff on goods shipped from China and an executive order to end a loophole on low-value imports.

The e-commerce giant, as well as fellow China-founded online company Shein, previously announced that they would be making "price adjustments" starting at the end of April. 

FILE - PDD Holdings Inc.'s Temu application arranged on a smartphone in Shanghai, China, on Feb. 3, 2025. Photographer: Raul Ariano/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Here’s what to know:

Temu adds ‘import charges’ to some items

What we know:

Temu, which is owned by the Chinese e-commerce company PDD Holdings, said it would be making "price adjustments" starting April 25, 2025. A similar announcement was made by Shein. 

A message now displayed on Temu’s checkout page states that "items imported into the U.S. may be subject to import charges."

What they're saying:

"These charges cover all customs-related processes and costs, including import fees paid to customs authorities on your behalf," the message from Temu reads. "The amount listed may not represent the actual amount paid to customs authorities."

Dig deeper:

Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have at least doubled the prices of items on Temu in some cases, according to separate analyses done by CNBC, NBC News, and Bloomberg News.

The backstory:

In recent years, both Temu and Shein have found massive success among American shoppers for offering goods at an extreme bargain. Both companies have rapidly grown in the U.S. thanks to the "de minimus" exemption that allowed duty-free entry for merchandise priced below $800. However, Trump’s recent crackdown on low-value imports has pressured the retailers to change their business models.

What they're saying:

Temu did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

RELATED: Amazon will reportedly begin showing tariff’s add-on cost in its price

Shein prices after Trump tariffs

The backstory:

"Due to recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs, our operating expenses have gone up," Shein said in a statement earlier this month. "To keep offering the products you love without compromising on quality, we will be making price adjustments starting April 25, 2025."

What we know:

While an import charge is not listed on Shein’s checkout page as of April 29, a message appears at the top that states: "Tariffs are included in the price you pay. You'll never have to pay extra at delivery."

Bloomberg reported a similar roll out of U.S. price increases on a broad range of items starting on Friday. The higher prices hit items in several categories on Shein’s site, including women’s clothing, home and kitchen, toys, and beauty and health, among others, according to the outlet.

Closing trade loophole that boosted Chinese online retailers

Big picture view:

The 145% tariff Trump slapped on most products made in China, coupled with his decision to end a customs exemption that allows goods worth less than $800 to come into the U.S. duty-free, has dented the business models for both Temu and Shein.

E-commerce companies have been the biggest users of the widely used exemption. Trump signed an executive order this month to eliminate the "de minimis provision" for goods from China and Hong Kong starting May 2, when they will be subject to the 145% import tax.

As many as 4 million low-value parcels — most of them originating in China — arrive in the U.S. every day under the soon-to-be-canceled provision. U.S. politicians, law enforcement agencies and business groups lobbied to remove the long-standing exemption, describing it as a trade loophole that gave inexpensive Chinese goods an advantage and served as a portal for illicit drugs and counterfeits to enter the country.