In his announcement proposing to crack down on "unsafe, unfairly traded products," President Joe Biden accused China-founded e-commerce platforms selling cheap goods of abusing the "de minimis exemption" that makes shipments valued under $800 duty-free.

The Biden administration is intensifying efforts to curb cheap imports from China, targeting e-commerce platforms like Shein and Temu that have taken advantage of the “de minimis” rule to bypass tariffs on low-value shipments.

The bottom of the barrel prices that have made Chinese-linked e-tailers Shein and Temu so popular with American consumers could soon rise if the Biden administration curtails their use of a trade law loophole.

Measures tightening customs waivers on low-value shipments of foreign goods going directly to U.S. consumers may undercut allegedly unfair cheaper pricing by Chinese e-commerce companies Shein and Temu.