Temu hits US shoppers with 145% import fees
Chinese e-commerce giant Temu, once the poster child for bargain shopping, is facing a major pricing crisis in the U.S. after slapping steep import charges on its customers. In response to President Donald Trump’s newly imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese imports, Temu has started adding similar import fees to orders — in many cases, doubling the final price consumers pay.
Over the weekend, shoppers began noticing shocking new charges tacked onto their bills. For example, a summer dress listed for $18.47 now costs $44.68 after a $26.21 import fee — a 142% surcharge. A child's bathing suit priced at $12.44 jumps to $31.12 with an $18.68 fee, and a handheld vacuum listed at $16.93 rises to $40.11 after a $21.68 markup.
Temu's website attempts to explain:
"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. The amount listed may not represent the actual amount paid to customs authorities."
Meanwhile, Temu’s main rival, Shein, has taken a different approach. Although Shein has raised some prices, it states at checkout that tariffs are already baked into the listed price, reassuring customers that there will be no additional fees upon delivery.
The drastic moves come after both Temu and Shein warned earlier this month that major price hikes were imminent. The companies had long benefited from the "de minimis" loophole — a trade exemption allowing goods valued under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free. Trump’s recent crackdown aims to end that exemption, putting companies like Temu directly in the crosshairs.
Temu acknowledged the pressure earlier this month, posting:
"Due to recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs, our operating expenses have gone up. To keep offering the products you love without compromising on quality, we will be making price adjustments starting April 25, 2025."
The sudden price shock threatens the very foundation of Temu’s success in the U.S. market. Since its 2022 launch, Temu had attracted millions of Americans with ads promoting the chance to “Shop like a billionaire.” For many cash-strapped shoppers, Temu offered access to clothing, electronics, and home goods at unbeatable prices — albeit with slower shipping times. Now, with prices creeping closer to those of Amazon, Walmart, and Target, Temu’s value proposition is rapidly eroding.
Temu’s app rankings have already started to tumble. According to Sensor Tower, its position in Apple’s App Store has dropped to No. 73, down from a consistent Top 10 spot just weeks ago. Shein has also slid, falling to No. 54 from No. 15.
Disillusioned customers have flooded Reddit forums in the past few days.
One user posted simply: “R.I.P. Temu, it was nice while it lasted.”
Another quipped, “From shopping like a billionaire to shopping like a peasant in one day.”
While some products have seen small pre-tariff price increases, it’s the newly added import charges that are truly jarring — and they appear to only apply to items shipping directly from China. Temu has been aggressively expanding U.S. warehouse operations over the past year, a move that now seems prescient.
Today, Temu’s "Lightning Deals" section is filled with items tagged “local,” meaning they ship from U.S. warehouses and are free from import charges. A prominent green banner reading “no import charges” further encourages customers to choose domestically stored products.
Still, as tariffs reshape the landscape for ultra-cheap imports, Temu's golden era in America may be fading — at least for now.
