“I closely relied on objects from Temu for my enterprise, and I’m freaking out that I can’t discover any of my normal provides,” wrote one Reddit person on the r/TemuThings subreddit. One other person shared a screenshot they claimed was of a dialog with Temu’s in-app customer support chat characteristic, through which an agent stated the platform is “presently unable to show objects outdoors the US” and couldn’t present a timeframe for the way lengthy the limitation would persist.
The change has additionally confused Temu sellers in China, who apparently weren’t notified forward of time that People would quickly not be capable to browse their merchandise. Including to the confusion is the truth that Temu allegedly eliminated a lot of China-based sellers from its platform final week, solely to shortly reverse the measure, main some sellers to initially consider the identical difficulty was occurring once more, in response to 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 enables People to import packages from wherever on the earth valued beneath $800 without having to pay import duties.
Temu, Shein, and different corporations 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 government order earlier this 12 months declaring that de minimis would not apply to shipments from China beginning on Might 2.
“It could be that the platform must make some regulatory changes throughout this tough interval,” says the Temu furnishings vendor.
Ultimately, Trump’s commerce struggle could essentially alter the way in which Temu operates within the US and its methods for retaining American clients. The corporate grew to become in style within the US each due to its lavish promoting spending and the truth that it may persistently present decrease costs for comparable 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 may go up fairly considerably, and it might 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 be presently exploring one other delivery program it calls “Y2,” which Temu began onboarding Chinese language sellers to on April 27, in response to Chinesellers, a e-newsletter targeted on cross-border ecommerce.
Because the publication explains, Y2 is a extra versatile variation of Temu’s present US warehousing mannequin, with sellers delivery particular person orders quite than bulk stock. However the sellers are accountable for dealing with the brand new tariffs and customs declaration course of, in addition to any issues which will include it, quite than Temu shouldering the burden. In some ways, it’s just like an present Amazon logistics choice known as “Success by Service provider,” or FBM.
These platform-wide modifications spotlight how shortly Temu has been adapting to the present risky coverage atmosphere, however the firm additionally dangers shedding what was as soon as a core a part of its identification and comparative benefit. “It strikes me as an enormous step backwards for Temu. What has actually helped Temu differentiate itself from Want and AliExpress is it controls the provision chain, so it might assure the supply pace 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 will not make modifications in a single day. We’re nonetheless observing to see if the insurance policies will change,” the vendor explains.
Temu can be attempting 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 development from different areas.
