If there’s one thing our generation will be known for, it’s having lived through the golden age of online shopping. Clothes, makeup, tech products… All ultra-cheap, no shipping costs, and delivered faster than you could imagine. Shein, Temu, Aliexpress, and Amazon managed to become the top global shopping platforms by using a tax loophole that allowed imports under 800 dollars to enter without paying duties. Well, that door has just closed. Donald Trump, in his return to the White House, hasn’t spared anyone and has now eliminated the trade exemption known as “de minimis” a measure that will make shipments much more expensive, slow down logistics, and, ultimately, put an end to online shopping.
Of course, this affects us, especially if we were used to ordering from Shein often, but it hits Chinese platforms the hardest, the ones that took advantage of this legal gap for years, allowing them to rise into the top 3 online stores. The curious thing? Even though Amazon will also be affected, it could end up benefiting. We’ll explain below.
What was the “de minimis” exemption and why has it been removed?
For years, any package entering the U.S. under 800 dollars was exempt from duties. It was the perfect setup for platforms like Shein, Temu, or Amazon Shopping. That rule was meant to simplify retail trade and avoid overloading it with tariffs, and of course, it was used by brands to sell at very low prices because there was no customs interference.
The result? Sweatshirts for three dollars, phone cases for one, kitchen gadgets for five. Who wouldn’t buy a cat-themed mariachi apron for 6 dollars? All legal, all tax-free. Until now.
Trump decides to close the door
With the argument of protecting local businesses and slowing the dominance of foreign platforms, the former president has decided to shut down the exemption completely. From now on, shipments under 800 dollars will also be taxed. On top of that, new tariffs have been imposed: 10% on products from China and 25% on those from Mexico and Canada.
The move fits into Trump’s protectionist strategy, which once again puts unfair competition from ultra-cheap imports at the centre of the economic debate and has already caused several clashes with his own government team.
How does this affect platforms… and your wallet
Starting with fast fashion and low-cost platforms like Shein or Temu, their profit margin was already quite small, around 10%. If they lose that exemption and have to pay duties, it’s likely that they’ll pass the cost on to the buyer. That means what used to cost $3 could now go up to $5… or more. The magic of impossible prices disappears, and with it, much of these websites’ appeal.
Amazon, the big winner
Compared to the direct hit on Shein and Temu, Amazon comes out in a better position. Its infrastructure is much stronger: distribution centres across the country, its own logistics, a variety of suppliers… And while it also sells cheap products, they’re usually already inside the U.S. tax system.
In practice, Amazon could absorb part of the market left behind by Chinese platforms. Not so much because of price, but because of trust, delivery times, and no customs surprises. Because whatever you might save,
What options are left for us as consumers?
Fewer whims, more thinking just it. It looks like the era of filling your cart with twenty dollars and receiving fifteen items at home might be coming to an end, so it’s forcing us to shop more wisely. For many, this change will be a signal to rethink shopping habits: fewer impulses, fewer whims.
Grouping purchases, using internal promotions, or looking more at local stores makes sense again now that our favourite shops are going to face price hikes.
And now what? The future of online deals
For years, shopping on Shein or Temu was almost a hobby, opening the apps, making endless carts, and receiving them in a few days.
Without that tax advantage, the model wobbles. And if a new legal loophole or an equally effective strategy doesn’t appear…