China has lodged an official complaint with the World Trade Organization against U.S. President Donald Trump’s new 10% tariff on Chinese imports, arguing that the move is protectionist and violates WTO regulations.
The complaint, filed on Wednesday, also challenges the revocation of a duty-free exemption for low-value packages, a decision that has disrupted supply chains and confused retailers.
Beijing’s request for consultations follows the abrupt closure of the “de minimis” exemption, which allowed packages under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free.
E-commerce giants such as Shein, Temu, and Amazon have relied on this provision for cross-border shipments. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection official stated that all small packages from China and Hong Kong must now have customs entries before arrival, potentially leading to cargo being returned.
The WTO confirmed receiving China’s request, which argues that the tariffs are based on “unfounded allegations” about China’s role in the fentanyl opioid crisis.
Beijing asserts the duties are discriminatory and violate WTO agreements. This dispute could lead to a ruling against the tariffs, as seen in a 2020 case, but enforcement remains uncertain due to the U.S. blocking WTO judge appointments.
Amid trade tensions, the U.S. Postal Service has resumed accepting parcels from China after a brief suspension. Meanwhile, China has retaliated with tariffs on U.S. coal, LNG, crude oil, and farm equipment and launched an anti-monopoly probe into Google.
