U.S. Slashes Cross-Border Small Parcel Tariffs from 120% to 54%

2025.5.14 GoodsFox Daily E-commerce News: U.S. Slashes Cross-Border Small Parcel Tariffs from 120% to 54%

200-Year-Old Publishing Giant Conquers Global Markets with Brand Power
U.S. Slashes Cross-Border Small Parcel Tariffs from 120% to 54%
France Plans Surcharge on Chinese Small Parcels Starting Next Year
U.S. Lowers Tariffs on Chinese Lithium Batteries, Boosting Export Optimism
Shopify’s Tax-Inclusive Pricing Now Available to All Merchants

1. 200-Year-Old Publishing Giant Conquers Global Markets with Brand Power

Global publishing titan HarperCollins, one of the Big Five, is driving a surge with its direct e-commerce model, inspiring independent station sellers. With 200 years of history, it sells over 200,000 book titles—fiction, non-fiction, and children’s—via its own website, reaching global readers. The site integrates seamless shopping, exclusive pre-sales, and author events, boosting customer retention and conversions. HarperCollins leverages social media and blog content to tap the fan economy, turning brand equity into sales. Cross-border sellers can emulate its high-value content-driven independent station, precise positioning, and diverse offerings to seize cultural consumption opportunities.

Source: GoodsFox

2. U.S. Slashes Cross-Border Small Parcel Tariffs from 120% to 54%

On May 13, the White House announced President Trump’s revised executive order, significantly cutting tariffs on small parcels under $800. The ad valorem tariff drops from 120% to 54%, retaining a $100 per-item specific tariff. A planned June 1 increase to $200 per item was canceled. These changes apply to goods from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau entering the U.S. for consumption or withdrawn from warehouses.

3. France Plans Surcharge on Chinese Small Parcels Starting Next Year

France intends to impose fees on Chinese small parcels from next year to curb the influx of Chinese goods into Europe. Budget Minister Amélie de Montchalin and Finance Minister Lombart announced the policy during a visit to a parcel sorting center near Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. France will propose a “few-euro” surcharge per parcel at the EU level, targeting platforms like SHEIN and Temu.

4. U.S. Lowers Tariffs on Chinese Lithium Batteries, Boosting Export Optimism

A May 12 U.S.-China Geneva trade talk statement announced broad tariff reductions, benefiting lithium battery exports. U.S. tariffs on Chinese vehicle batteries dropped to 58.4%, and non-vehicle batteries to ~41%. Previously, with a 3.4% base tariff, 25% extra in August 2024, and 145% proposed in April, total tariffs reached 173.4% for vehicle batteries and 156% for others. Industry leaders called the reduction a “major positive.”

5. Shopify’s Tax-Inclusive Pricing Now Available to All Merchants

On May 13, Shopify opened its tax-inclusive pricing feature to all merchants. Sellers can adjust prices to include average tariffs, displaying “total price includes tax” at checkout to prevent cart abandonment and boost conversions. Shopify supports default country-of-origin settings (editable per product or in bulk), ensuring accurate tax calculations based on HS codes, origins, and trade agreements.

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