U.S. President Trump has signed an executive order closing the “de minimis” trade loophole, which had allowed low-value shipments — primarily from mainland China and Hong Kong — to enter the U.S. duty-free. Starting May 2, packages under $800 will now be subject to tariffs, with postal shipments facing either a 30% duty or a flat fee per item, rising to $50 after June 1. The move targets the surge in direct-to-consumer imports from platforms like Temu and Shein, which together account for a significant portion of the nearly 1.4 billion de minimis shipments entering the U.S. annually.