US President Donald Trump’s new 10% tariff on imports from China has sparked confusion among shippers as customs at New York’s JFK airport put all packages from China on hold.
The US Postal Service (USPS) said it would accept parcels from China again, reversing a 12-hour suspension after the president ended an exemption used by retailers like Amazon, Shein, and Temu. The move aims to stop the flow of fentanyl and precursor chemicals into the United States.
However, shippers remain confused over how to deal with the new tariffs on small packages. FedEx suspended its money-back guarantee for overseas shipments due to disruptions in the supply chain.
“It’s a little gnarly,” said Silq CEO Ram Radhakrishnan, whose company is being swept up in the chaos following Trump’s order. “We don’t handle de minimis and are being held at JFK until further notice.”
Customs officers have alerted companies that all shipments coming from China and Hong Kong will be held at JFK until further notice. Other air freight could be more vulnerable to delays.
The situation is causing concern among international couriers, with some saying they will continue to send packages despite the uncertainty.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-postal-service-suspends-incoming-packages-china-hong-kong-2025-02-05