News Analysis
Washington’s new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China may close a loophole that exempted imports of packages with a value of $800 or less from previous tariffs. It’s a policy aimed at leveling the playing field between Amazon and the Chinese upstart Temu, which has enjoyed an unfair advantage under the old tariff regime.
“The Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, shall assess the loss of tariff revenues and the risks from importing counterfeit products and contraband drugs, e.g., fentanyl, that each result from the current implementation of the $800 or less, duty-free de minimis exemption under section 1321 of title 19, United States Code,” the White House said in a trade policy statement on Jan. 25….