Big News: USPS halts packages from China

[Dan Carmell]

Free link:

https://wapo.st/42Cacps

 

Theres a good article at Vox.com that discusses the whole issue of the current ‘de minimus’ exception to import tariffs. 

[inkstainedruth]

Unfortunately I got a popup when I clicked on your "free" link, saying that I could subscribe or turn off my ad blocker.  Given that I had to GET said ad blocker because the ads on HERE were so egregious (and occasionally for ILLEGAL products) and also caused my laptop to freeze and crash?  The adblocker and script blocker software STAYS....

But there's a story on the local news just now (about 5:30 PM EST) about the China tariffs supposedly being imposed -- but it wasn't clear whether or not those have been postponed or backtracked for the time being.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

ETA: Just hoping this won't affect the shipment of the burgundy Pilot Decimo I got for my husband (I've already had some communications/language barrie issues with the seller over making sure it's the CORRECT pen -- so it hasn't been shipped yet -- but at least (all things being equal) still arrive within the originally listed timeframe, with my previous experience with a pen being shipped via Japan Post (albeit from a different seller).

[I-am-not-really-here]

Well for now the above decision has been reversed.  Here's a gifted (should be no paywall) link. 

 

 https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/business/usps-china-de-minimis.html?unlocked_article_code=1.uk4.6gni.AvOrewEGCyg5&smid=url-share

 

[inkstainedruth]

Well, that article is being sluggish to load for some reason....  Sigh.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

[I-am-not-really-here]

25 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

Well, that article is being sluggish to load for some reason....  Sigh.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Maybe the gift doesn't work past the first person to open it?  This is my first time trying the gift option. 

[Dan Carmell]

3 hours ago, I-am-not-really-here said:

Maybe the gift doesn't work past the first person to open it?  This is my first time trying the gift option. 

No, your link worked for me and the link I provided is working as well. I dare say Ruth has some hardware/software configuration issues. 
 

By the way, my package from AliExpress has now bounced between San Francisco and my town 400 miles north TWICE because of this hasty decision and then its reversal. Will I ever get it? Probably, but I’m certainly won’t be placing another order until things settle down. 

[Penguincollector]

I have a few out in the ether as well, one of them the Hero green dragon. Maybe the Cross Century II Snake will be back in stock once the dust settles. 

[mke]

There is a bigger question for you Americans lurking: how long will that de minimis exception of $800 for packages coming from everywhere continue to stand?

 

 

 

[Ron Z]

From the article that I read, maybe not very long - but EU countries are looking at as well...

[I-am-not-really-here]

8 hours ago, mke said:

There is a bigger question for you Americans lurking: how long will that de minimis exception of $800 for packages coming from everywhere continue to stand?

 

 

 

As I understand it, the exception was raised to $800 partly because CBP didn't have the staffing level to support the old lower amount.  Lowering it now would return the same challenges.  It'd be simpler for CBP to refuse entry of all USPS packages inbound from China regardless of declared value.