The U.S. Postal Service announced Tuesday night it would halt all package shipments from Hong Kong and China. However, by the next morning it rescinded the order.
The USPS gave no reason for the initial decision, but after reversing it, CNN reported it acknowledged it had to do with the tariffs imposed by Trump.
“The USPS and Customs and Border Protection are working closely together to implement an efficient collection mechanism for the new China tariffs to ensure the least disruption to package delivery,” the Postal Service said in a statement Wednesday.
China retaliated against Trump’s 10% tariff on China with its own 15% tariff on coal and natural gas products from the U.S. and 10% on oil, agricultural machinery and large engine cars, according to CBS.
Users of Chinese online retailers Temu and Shein in the U.S. would have been most impacted by Trump’s tariffs.
“As a matter of principle, I want to point out that we urge the United States to stop politicizing trade and economic issues and using them as tools, and to stop the unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a regular press briefing when asked about the development.
A 25% tariff ordered by Trump for Canadian and Mexican imports have been suspended for 30 days. The President has acknowledged the tariffs would cause “some pain” for U.S. consumers who would have to pay higher prices for imports.
However, he said it was necessary to stop the flow of both undocumented immigrants and fentanyl from the targeted countries.
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