HONG KONG — The local post office in Hong Kong has declared that it will maintain the suspension of shipments containing goods to the United States until further notice, even though its American counterpart has lifted its previous ban on parcels from Hong Kong and other regions in China.
In an official statement, the Hong Kong government noted that Hongkong Post is currently in discussions with the postal administration of the United States, but stated that more clarification is required on specific issues, including tariffs. The government expressed its strong opposition to the U.S. imposing additional duties on Hong Kong products and urged the U.S. to take prompt actions to address this issue.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Postal Service announced that it would stop accepting parcels from China, including Hong Kong, following a new 10% tariff on Chinese goods and the elimination of a customs exemption for small-value shipments. However, the U.S. reversed this decision just a day later without providing a clear rationale, indicating that it will collaborate with Customs and Border Protection to devise a collection procedure for the new tariffs in order to prevent disruptions in delivery.
Though the ban was only temporary, the abrupt change within the same day, particularly for residents in the Hong Kong time zone, left many confused about sending mail to the U.S.
This situation has raised apprehensions about the possible effects on e-commerce platforms like Shein and Temu, which are favored by younger consumers in the U.S. for their affordable clothing and other merchandise that typically ships directly from China.
The cost-effective, direct postal services have been vital for these companies to maintain low prices, particularly given the previous “de minimis” exemption that allowed shipments valued under $800 to be tax-free.
According to recent figures from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. imported around $427 billion in goods from China in 2023, with consumer electronics, such as smartphones, computers, and various tech accessories, accounting for the largest categories of imports.
