Reuters: U.S. to Lower Tariffs on Chinese Small Parcels Below 30%

2025.5.15 GoodsFox Daily E-commerce News: Reuters: U.S. to Lower Tariffs on Chinese Small Parcels Below 30%

Reuters: U.S. to Lower Tariffs on Chinese Small Parcels Below 30%
90-Day “Rush Shipping Surge”? U.S. Route Capacity Tightens Again
Morgan Stanley: Retailers Say Q1 Stockpiling Mitigated Tariff Impact
TikTok Launches New Ad Objective to Boost Consideration-Stage Conversions
Mexico Attracts Beauty Brand Investment Amid Transport Advantages and Policy Challenges

1. Reuters: U.S. to Lower Tariffs on Chinese Small Parcels Below 30%

Reuters reported on May 14, citing White House orders and experts, that the U.S. will further ease its tariff war, reducing the “minimum” tariff on Chinese small parcels to below 30%. On May 12, President Trump revised Executive Order 14256, Section 2(c)(i), and amended Orders 14259 and 14266, cutting the ad valorem tariff on parcels under $800 from 120% to 54%. The $100 per-parcel specific tariff remains unchanged, and a planned June 1 increase to $200 was canceled. These changes apply to goods from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau imported for consumption or withdrawn from U.S. warehouses.

Source: GoodsFox

2. 90-Day “Rush Shipping Surge”? U.S. Route Capacity Tightens Again

After U.S.-China trade consensus, positive macro signals have fueled a surge in the Container Freight Index (Europe route) futures. Exporters are seizing a 90-day “window” amid fears of post-90-day trade policy uncertainty, potentially sparking a new “rush shipping surge.” Freight forwarders report a tense market, with U.S. routes nearing full capacity since this week. However, past trade-driven surges didn’t significantly impact European routes. Haitong Futures’ Lei Yue suggests rising U.S. cargo could ease Europe’s June-August capacity pressure, but overall capacity will likely exceed last year. Shipping lines may adjust Europe-to-U.S. allocations based on cargo growth and port congestion.

3. Morgan Stanley: Retailers Say Q1 Stockpiling Mitigated Tariff Impact

A Morgan Stanley report notes that Amazon, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Skechers, and Fossil stockpiled inventory to counter tariff effects. Amazon’s executives, in a recent earnings call, credited advance purchasing by the company and third-party sellers for avoiding widespread price hikes. Big 5 Sporting Goods and Skechers highlighted stockpiling as a short-term solution, minimizing Q1 tariff impacts.

4. TikTok Launches New Ad Objective to Boost Consideration-Stage Conversions

TikTok rolled out a new ad objective, Brand Consideration, across the Asia-Pacific, targeting users with strong purchase intent during the “consideration stage.” These users show active engagement—commenting, sharing, following, or clicking product cards. TikTok tracks these actions to build an engagement index, identifying users actively browsing or evaluating brands, enhancing ad effectiveness for brands seeking conversions.

5. Mexico Attracts Beauty Brand Investment Amid Transport Advantages and Policy Challenges

Amid tariff uncertainties from the Trump administration, global beauty and personal care brands are eyeing Mexico for supply chain diversification due to its location, manufacturing costs, and potential. While some brands view Mexico positively, others see it as unable to fully replace China. Mexico’s manufacturing costs now match China’s, with advantages in transport costs and proximity. Its local raw material, component, and packaging supply chains are maturing, supporting beauty production. For eco-conscious brands, Mexico’s nearshore manufacturing cuts sea freight emissions, aligning with sustainability goals.

For more e-commerce insights and tools, visit GoodsFox.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/goodsfox-helper-365450282/