If you’ve been shopping for bargain items on Temu or Shein, brace yourself. Recent US tariff changes are sending prices soaring. Starting in late April, the Chinese e-commerce giants announced significant price hikes, with some items increasing by up to 377%, according to data aggregated by Bloomberg News. The price surge comes after President Donald Trump’s administration revoked the “de minimis” exemption, which previously allowed goods under $800 to enter the US from mainland China and Hong Kong duty-free. Representatives for Temu and Shein did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Shein’s price adjustments are notable in various categories. Beauty and health products have seen an average increase of 51%, home and kitchen goods an increase of 30%, and women’s clothing an increase of 8%. According to The Daily Beast, a kitchen towel’s price jumped from $1.28 to $6.10 (377% increase) and a meat shredder rose from $2.91 to $9.02 (219% increase). Temu, owned by Chinese e-commerce company PDD Holdings, also raised prices, citing higher operating costs due to the new tariffs.
These changes are part of a broader trend where US shoppers are facing rising costs on imported goods. The elimination of the “de minimis” rule along with the imposition of higher tariffs has disrupted the business models of these fast-fashion retailers, leading to increased prices for consumers. Explore our new Tariff Pricing Tracker to keep track of how the tariffs are affecting popular products.
