US Tariffs & Shipping 2025
Has anyone in the U.S. received tea since the tariffs were lifted? It seems that the problem with shipping tea isn't tariff related, but is due to the extra FDA clearance and customs brokerage services required since the de minimis exemption was revoked. FedEx charges a lot for these extra brokerage services. It seems that vendors in China have been able to continue sending tea; I don't know whether these FDA clearance requirements aren't enforced for packages coming from overseas, whether these vendors have found cheaper ways to clear packages through customs, or whether they don't declare them properly and take their chances with packages being destroyed. Courier services also seem to cost a lot more in Canada. FedEx express costs $75, which is more than the value of the package I want to send.
I've had things come in since the tariffs and the de minimus take away. I've been lucky and everything shipped and given to USPS and it's all arrived without issue. I think they are doing duties paid at origin.
Albeit saying this after tracking my packages I've had one stuck in the Chicago sort center for 5 days awating customs inspection.
Albeit saying this after tracking my packages I've had one stuck in the Chicago sort center for 5 days awating customs inspection.
So vendors have been using regular mail rather than couriers like FedEx? Also, I hope your package gets through customs!mrmopu wrote: ↑Thu Dec 04, 2025 9:47 amI've had things come in since the tariffs and the de minimus take away. I've been lucky and everything shipped and given to USPS and it's all arrived without issue. I think they are doing duties paid at origin.
Albeit saying this after tracking my packages I've had one stuck in the Chicago sort center for 5 days awating customs inspection.
Tha k you for the well wishes on clearing. Mine has been using DHL or USPS lately. I've heard the horror stories of UPS and FedEx.GaoShan wrote: ↑Thu Dec 04, 2025 11:47 amSo vendors have been using regular mail rather than couriers like FedEx? Also, I hope your package gets through customs!mrmopu wrote: ↑Thu Dec 04, 2025 9:47 amI've had things come in since the tariffs and the de minimus take away. I've been lucky and everything shipped and given to USPS and it's all arrived without issue. I think they are doing duties paid at origin.
Albeit saying this after tracking my packages I've had one stuck in the Chicago sort center for 5 days awating customs inspection.
Thanks! Dealing with FedEx was horrible. They didn't tell me FedEx ground couldn't clear my package without upgrading to express or buying expensive brokerage services only when I'd already sent it and it was stuck at the border. They didn't mention this on the website and I had to chase them down to figure out why my package wasn't moving. I've had DHL tack on unnecessary customs/brokerage fees when I've imported tea, so I'm not sure if they will be any less expensive or easier to deal with when I'm shipping it to others. Fingers crossed Canada Post works.mrmopu wrote: ↑Fri Dec 05, 2025 7:46 amTha k you for the well wishes on clearing. Mine has been using DHL or USPS lately. I've heard the horror stories of UPS and FedEx.GaoShan wrote: ↑Thu Dec 04, 2025 11:47 amSo vendors have been using regular mail rather than couriers like FedEx? Also, I hope your package gets through customs!mrmopu wrote: ↑Thu Dec 04, 2025 9:47 amI've had things come in since the tariffs and the de minimus take away. I've been lucky and everything shipped and given to USPS and it's all arrived without issue. I think they are doing duties paid at origin.
Albeit saying this after tracking my packages I've had one stuck in the Chicago sort center for 5 days awating customs inspection.
Man I do hope you find something that take an arm and a leg. That's sad that it has to be expensive and worse that they don't tell you upfront about the tacked on costs and what additional services will cost.GaoShan wrote: ↑Fri Dec 05, 2025 8:06 amThanks! Dealing with FedEx was horrible. They didn't tell me FedEx ground couldn't clear my package without upgrading to express or buying expensive brokerage services only when I'd already sent it and it was stuck at the border. They didn't mention this on the website and I had to chase them down to figure out why my package wasn't moving. I've had DHL tack on unnecessary customs/brokerage fees when I've imported tea, so I'm not sure if they will be any less expensive or easier to deal with when I'm shipping it to others. Fingers crossed Canada Post works.
We can send via EMS e-packet DDP. So tax payed here in China. It's not as fast as DHL or Fedex , but much cheaper.
Please note, that "we - vendors" are not informed by the shipper here in China ( DHL , UPS, FeDex ) what is going on in other side ( USA ).
When we ask, they say : " all paid no worries ", but then I read here or elsewhere different story.
Things are also changing fast like back in Covid times. Now, for example, DHL not sending tea. If you order tea from China via DHL, expect parcel sit somewhere and hope it will return to sender and you get refund, or , like we did, vendor will pay extra to upgrade to FeDex.
Last parcel we didn't make any money because the profit from that went straight to the FeDex. Only for sake of keeping the customer. That's how bad it is here now.
In Chicago sorting center we "lost" - more likely stolen, a 500$ parcel. We had to take the bullet ( refund ). We are small company with no any ridiculous boutique margins , if this happens few times, I can close down biz.
I don't know if tariffs brought more money into the pockets of regular American citizens, but for sure it took lot's from ours here in China, just different way than originally aimed, I guess ;D
What I'm trying to say, if your parcel stuck or go slow, please be patient coz we have to deal with this **it here on daily basis.
Thanks for understanding!
Please note, that "we - vendors" are not informed by the shipper here in China ( DHL , UPS, FeDex ) what is going on in other side ( USA ).
When we ask, they say : " all paid no worries ", but then I read here or elsewhere different story.
Things are also changing fast like back in Covid times. Now, for example, DHL not sending tea. If you order tea from China via DHL, expect parcel sit somewhere and hope it will return to sender and you get refund, or , like we did, vendor will pay extra to upgrade to FeDex.
Last parcel we didn't make any money because the profit from that went straight to the FeDex. Only for sake of keeping the customer. That's how bad it is here now.
In Chicago sorting center we "lost" - more likely stolen, a 500$ parcel. We had to take the bullet ( refund ). We are small company with no any ridiculous boutique margins , if this happens few times, I can close down biz.
I don't know if tariffs brought more money into the pockets of regular American citizens, but for sure it took lot's from ours here in China, just different way than originally aimed, I guess ;D
What I'm trying to say, if your parcel stuck or go slow, please be patient coz we have to deal with this **it here on daily basis.
Thanks for understanding!
Thanks for letting me know that DHL is no longer sending tea. It seems things are changing at warp speed and that no one knows what they're doing. It doesn't help that Trump is notorious for adding and removing tariffs on a whim.aet wrote: ↑Sun Dec 07, 2025 12:25 amWe can send via EMS e-packet DDP. So tax payed here in China. It's not as fast as DHL or Fedex , but much cheaper.
Please note, that "we - vendors" are not informed by the shipper here in China ( DHL , UPS, FeDex ) what is going on in other side ( USA ).
When we ask, they say : " all paid no worries ", but then I read here or elsewhere different story.
Things are also changing fast like back in Covid times. Now, for example, DHL not sending tea. If you order tea from China via DHL, expect parcel sit somewhere and hope it will return to sender and you get refund, or , like we did, vendor will pay extra to upgrade to FeDex.
Last parcel we didn't make any money because the profit from that went straight to the FeDex. Only for sake of keeping the customer. That's how bad it is here now.
In Chicago sorting center we "lost" - more likely stolen, a 500$ parcel. We had to take the bullet ( refund ). We are small company with no any ridiculous boutique margins , if this happens few times, I can close down biz.
I don't know if tariffs brought more money into the pockets of regular American citizens, but for sure it took lot's from ours here in China, just different way than originally aimed, I guess ;D
What I'm trying to say, if your parcel stuck or go slow, please be patient coz we have to deal with this **it here on daily basis.
Thanks for understanding!
I've heard horror stories like yours about packages going missing or being destroyed by customs. I wonder why some packages get through while others don't. I considered splitting my higher-value shipments into two parcels in case packages were lost or destroyed. Maybe they're targeting more expensive packages?
I agree that these tariffs and the end of de minimis are making life much harder for small businesses. Larger companies will probably be able to adapt with fewer issues.
Chicago and Bells Garden sort centers are the worst. I've got one stuck in Chicago for 6 days now.
Thanks!
I'd only use courier services like FedEx and DHL to ship tea to the States, as regular mail service works fine everywhere else. I used a local courier, Chit Chats, to get cheap shipping to both Canada and Australia. Chit Chats won't ship food products, including tea, to the U.S. either.