Temu and Shein have exploded in the U.S. by going on an online marketing blitz and offering consumers inexpensive goods from China, whether it’s a $3 pair of shoes or a $15 smartwatch. The rise of the discount shopping apps, along with TikTok Shop from China’s ByteDance, have generated fresh competition for U.S. e-commerce companies Amazon, eBay, and Etsy. Much of their growth, is the result of a trade loophole, known as the de minimis exception.
Temu and Shein have exploded in the U.S. by going on an online marketing blitz and offering consumers inexpensive goods from China, whether it’s a $3 pair of shoes or a $15 smartwatch. The rise of the discount shopping apps, along with TikTok Shop from China’s ByteDance, have generated fresh competition for U.S. e-commerce companies Amazon, eBay, and Etsy. Much of their growth, is the result of a trade loophole, known as the de minimis exception.