Online shoppers in the U.S. are experiencing sticker shock as prices on popular platforms like Temu and Shein rise sharply. A three-pack of men’s shorts that once cost $23 now totals $56 due to added import charges. Some customers have reported seeing import fees higher than the actual product prices, with one $18 order from Temu facing a $27 surcharge. Both Temu and Shein blame the increased costs on new global trade rules and tariffs.
These changes stem from the Trump administration's decision to close a loophole that had allowed low-cost Chinese products to be shipped duty-free to American households. Now, such goods face tariffs as high as 120%, with shipping fees expected to double in the coming months. Despite this, many imported items remain cheaper than U.S.-made alternatives. Government officials say the U.S. is still negotiating with China and India, but new deals could take years. With the president’s pause on further tariffs ending in just 72 days, uncertainty continues to grow over what shoppers can expect.
Vocabulary:
• tariff (noun): a tax on goods brought into a country
• retailer (noun): a company or person that sells goods to the public
• import (noun/verb): products brought from another country; to bring in goods
• fee (noun): money paid for a service or extra charge
• shipment (noun): a delivery of goods
• loophole (noun): a weakness in a rule that allows people to avoid following it
• negotiation (noun): a discussion to reach an agreement
• dispute (verb/noun): to argue or disagree about something
• unsustainable (adj.): not able to continue without causing problems
• surcharge (noun): an extra cost added to the usual price
• platform (noun): an online service or website for selling or communicating
• pause (noun): a temporary stop or break in activity
Source: NBC News