Hong Kong’s post office has suspended shipments to the United States until further notice, despite the US reversing its ban on packages from the city. The Hong Kong government expressed strong disapproval over the US imposition of additional duties on Hong Kong products and urged the US to take “urgent actions” to rectify the issue.
The US had previously imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese goods and ended a customs exception that allowed small-value parcels to enter the country without paying tax. However, it reversed its decision just hours later, citing concerns about delivery disruptions and working with Customs and Border Protection to implement a collection process for the new tariffs.
This short-lived ban has caused confusion among online shoppers who rely on cheap, direct postal services from Hong Kong-based companies like Shein and Temu. These companies often ship goods tax-free if their value is under $800, but the US trade tensions have disrupted this arrangement. The US imported over $427 billion worth of goods from China in 2023, with consumer electronics being a major import category.
The Hong Kong government’s decision to suspend shipments to the US underscores the ongoing tensions between the two countries and highlights the impact on global trade.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/hong-kongs-post-office-continues-suspend-packages-us-118554736