Latest news with #importfees
Globe and Mail
21-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Temu Owner PDD Dives as EU Gets Set to Mirror Trump and Hike Taxes on Low Cost Packages
Shares in Chinese e-commerce group PDD Holdings (PDD) dropped today on fears that the European Union (EU) is planning a tax hike on imported goods. Confident Investing Starts Here: Direct to Doorstep The EU is considering imposing a €2 flat fee on low-cost items entering the trading bloc. This is likely to hit small packages such as parcels coming from Chinese e-commerce groups such as PDD's Temu and fast-fashion company Shein. If introduced it will mirror the scrapping of the de-minimis regime for low-cost items made by the U.S. during the tariffs stand-off between it and China. According to the Financial Times, EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic wants the handling fee to be charged on direct sales from China to shoppers homes. It is estimated that 4.6 billion such packages end up on people's doorsteps with a huge nine out of ten coming from China. A €0.50 fee is set to be imposed on items sent to warehouses. Safety Concerns Sefcovic is said, like President Trump, to be concerned about the safety of the goods coming in from China and the 'huge loads' and work it brings EU customs officials. Trump's move was part of his strategy to boost domestic manufacturing of small items such as toys in the U.S. There is no indication that providing a similar boost to EU manufacturing is on Sefcovic's mind. It will be another worry for Temu and Shein though with the latter already tipped to ditch its expected IPO in London because of economic uncertainty. Both had no doubt hoped that perhaps the worst of the shocks were over as U.S. and Chinese trade tensions eased in recent weeks. But the EU has shown how vulnerable and volatile the new less globalized economy can be.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
American woman stunned after being asked to pay $300 fee to import $125 order from popular Australian brand
A former Miss Houston competitor has slammed a popular Australian brand after she was charged $300 to import the package to the US after Donald Trump 's tariffs. Taylor Toftemark, 24, posted a TikTok on May 7 after she received an email telling her that her $125 order required a duty fee payment of US$193.51 (AUD$300). 'I ordered $80 worth of stuff from an Australian company. Today, I get an email saying I have to pay $200 to get it shipped here,' she said. 'What are you f***ing talking about. Why would I pay double what I paid? 'Why wouldn't you tell me this at checkout and I could have saved myself a hassle?' Ms Toftemark, who participated in Miss Houston 2024, said she initially thought it was a scam but, on further inspection, discovered it was legitimate. She captioned the rant 'fking orange man's tariffs', seeming to acknowledge the steep cost would have been a result of Donald Trump's global import tax. It comes just weeks after fellow American, Nani Franzitta, said she was hit with a US$1834 (AUD$2,851) import duty on her order from White Fox Boutique. @taylortoftemark I'm so mad and sad rn like wtf is this #tarrif #trump #dhl #shippingorders #australia ♬ original sound - TayTay Aussies were quick to defend Glassons after taking issue with Ms Toftemark's argument that the brand should have informed her of the fee. 'Why are you blaming Australia for American tariffs?' someone said. Another quipped: 'It is not the job of foreign companies to educate Americans about American taxes'. 'Welcome to what being an Aussie has always felt like! We don't order from America because it usually costs double or more to ship than the item,' a third said. On April 2, Donald Trump slapped Australia with 10 per cent tariffs on goods exports to America as part of a global policy, impacting online shopping orders. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Glassons for comment. In the FAQs section of its website, it answers the question: 'Can you ship to my country?' 'Please note that customs or import duties may be charged when the order reaches its destination country. These must be paid by the recipient. We have no control over these charges and cannot predict what they may be,' the brand states.
