“I closely relied on objects from Temu for my enterprise, and I’m freaking out that I can not discover any of my normal provides,” wrote one Reddit consumer on the r/TemuThings subreddit. One other consumer shared a screenshot they claimed was of a dialog with Temu’s in-app customer support chat characteristic, through which an agent mentioned the platform is “at the moment unable to show objects exterior the US” and couldn’t present a time-frame for a way lengthy the limitation would persist.
The change has additionally confused Temu sellers in China, who apparently weren’t notified forward of time that Individuals would quickly now not be capable of browse their merchandise. Including to the confusion is the truth that Temu allegedly eliminated numerous China-based sellers from its platform final week, solely to rapidly reverse the measure, main some sellers to initially consider the identical difficulty was taking place once more, in accordance with sellers who shared their experiences on the Chinese language social media web site Xiaohongshu.
The furnishings and residential decor vendor confirmed to WIRED that each one his merchandise shipped from China have been eliminated, a call they consider was made in response to the top of the “de minimis” exception, a rule that permits Individuals to import packages from wherever on this planet valued beneath $800 without having to pay import duties.
Temu, Shein, and different firms that ship buyer orders straight from China have benefited from the commerce provision for years, however critics say it has given overseas on-line procuring platforms an unfair benefit. Trump issued an govt order earlier this yr declaring that de minimis would now not apply to shipments from China beginning on Could 2.
“It could be that the platform must make some regulatory changes throughout this troublesome interval,” says the Temu furnishings vendor.
In the long run, Trump’s commerce warfare might essentially alter the best way Temu operates within the US and its methods for retaining American clients. The corporate grew to become fashionable within the US each due to its lavish promoting spending and the truth that it might constantly present decrease costs for related objects provided on different ecommerce platforms. With excessive tariffs on Chinese language imports and the top of de minimis exemption, the price of Temu merchandise might go up fairly considerably, and it could additionally take longer for individuals to obtain packages now topic to a extra rigorous customs clearance course of.
Even earlier than Trump introduced the tariffs, Temu was already making modifications to its enterprise mannequin, together with storing extra stock in US-based warehouses and experimenting with a extra conventional, Amazon-esque logistics construction. The platform can also be at the moment exploring one other transport program it calls “Y2,” which Temu began onboarding Chinese language sellers to on April 27, in accordance with Chinesellers, a e-newsletter targeted on cross-border ecommerce.
Because the publication explains, Y2 is a extra versatile variation of Temu’s current US warehousing mannequin, with sellers transport particular person orders relatively than bulk stock. However the sellers are in control of dealing with the brand new tariffs and customs declaration course of, in addition to any issues that will include it, relatively than Temu shouldering the burden. In some ways, it’s much like an current Amazon logistics possibility referred to as “Achievement by Service provider,” or FBM.
These platform-wide modifications spotlight how rapidly Temu has been adapting to the present unstable coverage atmosphere, however the firm additionally dangers shedding what was as soon as a core a part of its id and comparative benefit. “It strikes me as a large step backwards for Temu. What has actually helped Temu differentiate itself from Want and AliExpress is it controls the availability chain, so it could actually assure the supply velocity and the extent of high quality assurance to supply a constant expertise,” says Kaziukėnas.
The furnishings Temu vendor tells WIRED that they’ve thus far held again from leaping on the Y2 wagon. “We’re a big group, so we won’t make modifications in a single day. We’re nonetheless observing to see if the insurance policies will change,” the vendor explains.
Temu can also be making an attempt to extend its gross sales in different markets like Europe, the place tariffs on Chinese language imports stay far decrease than within the US. One Chinese language Temu vendor tells WIRED that whereas their US listings have been eliminated, their general gross sales have elevated attributable to progress from different areas.
