There has been a surge in cases where shipping fees to the US have become ridiculously high

Following the Trump administration's abolition of the de minimis tariff exemption for small shipments to the U.S., effective August 29, 2025, international e-commerce sellers are implementing exorbitant shipping fees for U.S. customers to deter purchases and mitigate negative feedback from unexpected tariff costs. For instance, a $319 camera lens now incurs a $2,000 shipping charge to the U.S. compared to $29 elsewhere. This policy shift is disrupting cross-border trade, causing some global postal services, such as Japan Post, to suspend small-value shipments to the U.S., reflecting significant friction in international e-commerce and supply chains.

Analysis

There has been a surge in cases where shipping fees to the US have become ridiculously high Following the abolition of tariff exemptions for small shipments in the United States, some sellers have taken steps to raise shipping fees only in the United States. $2,000 Shipping: International Sellers Charge Absurd Prices to Avoid Dealing With American Tariffs https://www.404media.co/2-000-shipping-international-sellers-charge-absurd-prices-to-avoid-dealing-with-american-tariffs/ $320 camera lens buyers hit with $2,000 delivery fee in tariffs fight — some sellers implement exorbitant shipping costs to dissuade US customers | Tom's Hardware https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/usd320-camera-lens-buyers-hit-with-usd2-000-delivery-fee-in-tariffs-fight-some-sellers-implement-exorbitant-shipping-costs-to-dissuade-us-customers On July 30, 2025, President Donald Trump announced that he would abolish the de minimis system, which exempted small shipments of less than $800 (approximately 119,000 yen) from customs duties. He also announced that starting August 29, 2025, all related customs duties would be imposed on previously exempt small shipments. The de minimis system kept costs low when exchanging goods between individuals, but it has also led to problems such as people abusing the de minimis system to send illegal drugs to the United States, or companies dividing small shipments into smaller shipments and exporting them in large quantities, causing significant losses to the United States. On major e-commerce sites such as eBay and Etsy, sellers have begun setting exorbitant shipping fees in an attempt to discourage Americans from purchasing products, given that tariffs will be imposed on small shipments. For example, a Japanese eBay seller called 'Ninjacamera.Japan' recently increased the shipping fee for a $319 Olympus camera lens to $2,000. This is a US-only shipping fee, while other regions, such as the UK and Italy, charge $29. Other examples include companies charging Americans $500 (approximately ¥75,000) for shipping on a $575 (approximately ¥86,000) camera, but not charging shipping fees from other regions, and companies charging shipping fees to the United States that are 30 to 50 times higher than those charged to other countries. According to eBay, which says that even a few negative reviews can affect a seller's reputation, has issued a warning to sellers that they may receive negative reviews from American buyers who do not understand how customs duties work. It is believed that the purpose of cases like this is to discourage buyers from purchasing by deliberately charging high shipping fees, thereby reducing the number of buyers who unknowingly pay high customs duties and give sellers low ratings. While eBay does have a setting that allows sellers to completely block purchases from certain countries, the seller in question decided it was easier to modify his existing listing and set shipping costs than to delete or hide the listing. 'Tariffs have a significant impact on technology products because many products are manufactured outside the United States. Our staff faces similar issues, especially when handling review samples,' wrote Tom's Hardware, a technology media outlet. The tariffs are also causing confusion among product delivery companies, with Japan Post and other countries temporarily suspending the acceptance of small-value shipments. Due to the Trump administration's tariffs, post offices around the world, including Japan Post, have stopped sending mail to the United States. What is happening? - GIGAZINE Related Posts: in Posted by log1pkr The impending abolition of the 'de minimis' tariff exemption for small shipments under $800 to the United States, effective August 29, 2025, is creating significant friction in the international e-commerce landscape. In response, sellers on platforms such as eBay (EBAY) and Etsy (ETSY) are proactively discouraging U.S. customers by implementing exorbitant shipping fees. This is a defensive maneuver to avoid dealing with new tariff complexities and to mitigate the risk of negative reviews from U.S. buyers surprised by unforeseen customs duties. For example, one seller increased the shipping cost for a $319 camera lens to $2,000 for U.S. buyers, while maintaining a $29 fee for other countries. The disruption extends beyond individual sellers, as major postal services like Japan Post have reportedly suspended acceptance of small-value shipments to the U.S. This situation signals a direct headwind for e-commerce marketplaces, as it degrades the user experience for a key consumer market and threatens to reduce cross-border transaction volumes, a risk reflected in the negative sentiment scores for both EBAY (-0.4) and ETSY (-0.3).

Key Decisions for Investors

• Investors in e-commerce platforms like EBAY and ETSY should monitor for any guidance on the expected impact to Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) from cross-border trade as the August 2025 tariff implementation date nears.
• It is prudent to assess the exposure of companies within retail and logistics portfolios that rely on the 'de minimis' provision for sourcing or direct-to-consumer sales from international markets.
• The policy change introduces trade policy risk; therefore, investors should factor in potential volatility for affected sectors tied to the outcome of U.S. political cycles and regulatory shifts.
• Watch for further actions from major logistics and postal carriers, as widespread service suspensions to the U.S. could signal a more severe and prolonged disruption to global supply chains than is currently priced in.