Hong Kong has stopped sending mail and parcels to the US. This decision comes after US President Donald Trump signed an order to raise taxes on goods worth less than $800 from China and Hong Kong. The new tax rate will jump from 30% to 120%.
What’s happening with Hong Kong’s postal service?
The Hong Kong postal service will stop accepting parcels sent by sea immediately. Parcels sent by air will be stopped starting April 27.
Why is Hong Kong taking this step?
The Hong Kong government says the US is being unfair and aggressive. They claim the US is hurting Hong Kong people by making them pay too much in fees. The government also says the US action is unreasonable and violates international trade rules.
The new tax rule will make it expensive for US consumers to buy goods online from Chinese platforms like Shein, Temu, and AliExpress. Before this, goods worth less than $800 were tax-free under the “de minimis” rule.
How will the new tax rule affect US consumers?
The tax on parcels worth less than $800 will start at $100 on May 2. It will then rise to $200 on June 1. This means US consumers will have to pay more for goods bought online from China and Hong Kong.
The increase in taxes is part of the ongoing trade war between the US and China. It’s not just affecting big businesses but also ordinary people and cross-border retail trade.
