The turn is radical. Temu has stopped showing foreign sellers products to US users. In other words, you can no longer buy items that are sent directly from China, just The model that converted to the platform in a phenomenon of electronic commerce in that country. The change occurs in full commercial shaking: the Trump government has eliminated Customs exemption for packages of less than $ 800 from China.
“Temu has recently migrated its operations in the United States to a local distribution model. This means that all sales in that country are now managed by local vendors, and orders are processed from the territory itself,” a spokesman explained to Wired.
Goodbye to direct access to Chinese sellers. The immediate consequence is clear: American buyers can no longer directly acquire products from China, which is a complete turn with respect to the usual operation of the platform in that market. Sales are now in the hands of local vendors, and the available catalog is limited exclusively to articles stored in US territory.
A new label: “Local warehouse”. All products available in the American app now carry the “local warehouse” label. Although many of them remain manufactured in China, they are physically stored in the United States, which exempts them from the new customs tariffs. This nuance is key: Temu has not eliminated the products of Chinese origin, but it has eliminated the possibility of buying them directly from the country of origin, breaking the traditional channel that had allowed him to offer such low prices.
The attempt to show tariffs. Before blocking, Temu came to show import positions over 100 % of the original price. On their website, it was read: “Imported articles to the United States may be subject to import positions. These charges cover all customs processes and costs, including tariffs paid to the authorities in your name.” That section is still visible, but has lost practical sense, since now no user in the United States can buy products that are sent from outside the country. Temu’s strategy to make visible the impact of tariffs apparently did not prosper.
Manufactured in China, stored in the United States. Although the direct channel has broken, Chinese products are still present. Many of the current articles were imported before the entry into force of the new standards. But that stock is limited. According to Chinellerseverything indicates that it will be the sellers themselves who will assume the import procedures and the management of the new tariffs, presumably transferring them in part or in their entirety at the price that consumers pay.
The impact of the tariff war. The change of model is not understood without the context. At the beginning of the month, the Trump administration raised tariffs up to 145 % For certain imports from China. Today, May 2, the Elimination of the exemption known as “of Minimis”which allowed to import products of less than $ 800 without paying taxes.
A blow that goes beyond Temu. According to CNNmany low -income Americans used Temu as a way of access to affordable products. That access has now closed. The platform faces the greatest challenge since its arrival in the US market. The model that made it grow has come down, and it is not clear if the measure will be temporary or definitive. What is certain is that the commercial environment has changed, and Temu will have to adapt if you want to continue competing.
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