President Donald Trump reversed part of his tariffs on China related to cheaper goods via executive order, but that reversal is not expected to last for long.
Last week, Trump issued an executive order that went into effect Tuesday, removing an exemption for products under $800 coming from China from having to face tariffs or additional information from customs. The sudden removal of the “de minimis” exemption to these products caused confusion and led to the Postal Service temporarily halting parcels from China and Hong Kong from being accepted.
The president signed a subsequent executive order Friday, which restored the “de minimis” exemption for the products but also added that the treatment “shall cease to be available for such articles upon notification by the Secretary of Commerce to the President that adequate systems are in place to fully and expediently process and collect tariff revenue.”
The exemption has been used by China-based retailers Temu and Shein to deliver cheap products to U.S. customers, but it has also been used by larger retailers like Amazon.
Trump, who has used tariffs and trade policy as leverage early in his term, teased at the White House that he will be announcing further action on trade policy next week.
“I’ll be announcing that next week reciprocal trade, so that we’re treated evenly with other countries. We don’t want any more, any less. … We’ll have a news conference and we’ll lay it out. Pretty simple,” Trump said Friday.
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The week began with Trump appearing likely to levy 25% blanket tariffs on Canada and Mexico, but those tariffs were paused after both countries came to an agreement with the U.S. over combatting illegal immigration and fentanyl.
Christian Datoc contributed to this report.
This article was originally published at www.washingtonexaminer.com
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