USPS Reverses Ban on Packages from China and Hong Kong Amid Confusion Over New Tariffs
(WCTU 13) — In a swift reversal, the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced early this morning that it would once again accept packages from China and Hong Kong, just hours after issuing a notice stating it would stop accepting them until further notice. The abrupt policy change has raised questions about the implementation of new tariffs imposed on Chinese goods by the Trump administration.
USPS stated in its latest announcement that it will "continue accepting all international inbound mail and packages from China and Hong Kong Post." However, the agency also revealed for the first time that it is working closely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to develop a system for collecting tariffs under the new policy.
“The Postal Service and Customs and Border Protection are working closely together to implement an efficient collection mechanism for the new China tariffs to ensure the least disruption to package delivery,” USPS said in its statement.
The confusion stems from President Donald Trump's recent decision to impose a sweeping 10% tariff on all Chinese imports, which took effect on Tuesday. While executive orders typically outline broad policies, they often lack detailed instructions on how agencies should implement them. According to reports, both USPS and CBP appeared unprepared to handle the logistics of collecting the new tariffs, leading to the temporary halt in accepting packages from China and Hong Kong.
Trump announced the tariff hike late last week and confirmed over the weekend that it would take effect as scheduled. The move is part of his broader trade policy aimed at pressuring China in ongoing negotiations. However, the lack of specific guidelines left federal agencies scrambling to determine how to enforce the tariffs, especially on small shipments ordered directly by American consumers from Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Shein, Temu, and DHgate.
The new tariff policy requires that a 10% duty be collected on all Chinese imports, with no exceptions. This means that any entity importing items from China—whether a major U.S. distributor or an individual customer—will be responsible for paying the tariff. It remains unclear whether the responsibility for paying the tax will fall on U.S. companies distributing Chinese goods or on consumers making direct purchases.
The rapid policy shift underscores the challenges of implementing broad trade measures without clear procedural guidance. As USPS and CBP work to establish a collection mechanism, customers ordering goods from China may face delays and additional costs.
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