Temu provides ‘import fees’ of about 145% after Trump price lists, greater than doubling worth of many pieces

Chinese e-tailer Temu has began including “import charges” of about 145% in accordance with President Donald Trump‘s price lists.

The charges, which started cropping up over the weekend after worth hikes went into impact on Friday, price greater than the person merchandise shoppers are purchasing and will greater than double the cost of a regular order.

For instance, a summer time get dressed offered on Temu for $18.47 will price $44.68 after $26.21 in import fees are added to the invoice, a 142% surcharge, a CNBC research displays. A kid’s bathing go well with priced at $12.44 will price consumers $31.12 when the $18.68 import fee is taken under consideration, a staggering 150% price. A hand held vacuum cleaner indexed at $16.93 now prices $40.11 when factoring in an import fee of $21.68, which is a more or less 137% markup.

“Items imported into the U.S. may be subject to import charges. These charges cover all customs-related processes and costs, including import fees paid to customs authorities on your behalf,” Temu explains on its web page. “The amount listed may not represent the actual amount paid to customs authorities.” 

Representatives from Temu did not straight away reply to a request for remark.

Rival bargain store Shein has additionally hiked costs on its website, nevertheless it does not seem to be imposing import fees. The corporate added a banner at checkout that states, “Tariffs are included in the price you pay. You’ll never have to pay extra at delivery.”

The strikes come after Temu and Shein warned previous this month that they might carry their costs after Trump slapped a 145% tariff on many imports from China and vowed to finish the de minimis exemption on May 2. The widely-criticized loophole helped boost up Temu and Shein’s expansion within the U.S. as it allowed maximum applications to go into the rustic accountability unfastened, so long as the imports have been valued below $800. 

“Due to recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs, our operating expenses have gone up,” Temu mentioned on its website previous this month. “To keep offering the products you love without compromising on quality, we will be making price adjustments starting April 25, 2025.”

The import charges erode the worth proposition that made Temu well liked by shoppers within the first position. Temu, which is owned by means of Chinese e-commerce large PDD Holdings, has skyrocketed in recognition within the U.S. since its release in 2022 by means of blanketing the web with commercials proclaiming customers can “Shop like a billionaire.” Though transport occasions might be lengthy, shoppers flocked to the website since the all-time low costs on clothes, electronics and home items made the additional wait price it.

Temu allowed cash-strapped shoppers struggling to find the money for necessities like groceries and housing to splurge on nice-to-have pieces like new garments or house decor with out the steep price ticket. Now, the costs of a lot of its merchandise might be extra aligned with U.S. competition like Amazon, Walmart and Target, however may just nonetheless take greater than every week to reach.

Temu has sharply slashed its on-line advert spending within the U.S. since Trump introduced sweeping price lists. Temu’s rating in Apple’s app retailer has since plummeted to No. 73, after constantly rating within the best 10, in keeping with Sensor Tower information. Shein is lately at 54, down from 15 ultimate month.

Temu consumers have flooded a Reddit discussion board with posts decrying the tariff-induced import fees within the days for the reason that corporate raised costs. In one put up titled “R.I.P. Temu, it was nice while it lasted,” a person wrote that the cost of pieces “went flying up” on Friday.

“From shopping like a billionaire to shopping like a peasant in one day,” a person wrote in a separate Reddit put up on Saturday.

Some information retailers and shoppers have tracked modest worth will increase on person pieces offered on Temu — sooner than the import fees. It seems the brand new charges are most effective being tacked directly to merchandise that don’t seem to be offered from native warehouses within the U.S. Over the ultimate 12 months, Temu has labored to construct out U.S.-based distribution facilities to protect itself from industry tensions and has reportedly driven some dealers to retailer stock within the U.S. 

Recently, Temu has been selling merchandise that send to U.S. shoppers in the community over those who send at once from China. That pattern has most effective ramped up as the corporate hikes costs and provides further charges.

For instance, a scan of Temu’s “lightning deals” web page on Monday confirmed greater than 75% of the goods presented had a “local” tag on them. When shoppers click on at the pieces, a shiny inexperienced banner with the phrases “no import charges” is highlighted on the best.