USPS Halts China Suspension Stoking Trade Fears Amid Tariff Tussle This title effectively captures the main topic of the article, which is the United States Postal Service's (USPS) decision to continue accepting packages from China and Hong Kong after initially suspending shipments due to concerns about enforcing trade laws. The use of Halts and Suspension creates a sense of drama and highlights the reversal of this decision, while also emphasizing the broader context of the ongoing tariff dispute between the US and China.

Title USPS Halts China Suspension Stoking Trade Fears Amid Tariff Tussle

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The United States Postal Service (USPS) has reversed course, announcing it will continue accepting packages from China and Hong Kong following an earlier order to suspend shipments. This decision comes as tensions between the US and China escalate over tariffs.

The trade dispute began when President Donald Trump's administration imposed new tariffs on Chinese goods, citing concerns about drug trafficking. As part of these measures, the US scrapped a duty-free exemption for low-value packages, known as the de minimis exemption. This exemption allowed goods valued at $800 or less to enter the US without paying duties or certain taxes.

The USPS initially suspended shipments from China and Hong Kong due to concerns about enforcing trade laws, health and safety requirements, intellectual property rights, and consumer protection rules. However, this decision has sparked fears of major trade disruptions.

US officials have pointed to the growth of Chinese-founded online retailers such as Shein and Temu as a key factor behind the increase in shipments. The USPS's decision to continue accepting packages from China and Hong Kong came after the latest data showed the US trade deficit swelled last year to its second largest on record, a metric that Trump has used in the past to justify trade battles with China.

In a statement, the USPS said it would continue accepting all international inbound mail and packages from China and Hong Kong Posts while working closely with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to implement an efficient collection mechanism for new China tariffs. The agency emphasized its commitment to minimizing disruptions to package delivery.

Beijing responded to the US decision by accusing Washington of politicizing trade and economic issues and using them as tools. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian vowed to take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.

The removal of the de minimis exemption may also impact other retailers, such as Amazon, which could face delays or additional costs for their imports. The European Commission has announced plans to impose new fees on e-commerce imports from China, further exacerbating trade tensions.

In a tit-for-tat move, Beijing imposed levies on US energy, vehicles, and equipment imports earlier this week. This retaliation affects roughly $20 billion worth of US goods annually, or 12 percent of total American imports into China. In contrast, the US tariffs announced over the weekend will impact some $450 billion worth of goods.

The USPS's reversal decision follows an announcement by Macao's post office that it would suspend service to the US. This development highlights the complexity and far-reaching consequences of the ongoing trade dispute between the US and China.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) has reached out to Shein and Temu for comment on this developing situation.

Note I made minor changes to improve tone, grammar, and readability throughout the blog post.

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.