The Trump administration move to stop low-cost imports entering the U.S. tariff-free is likely to hit fast fashion retailer Shein harder than online dollar-store Temu, thanks to Temu's wider product range and moves to change its shipping strategy.

Mr Trump’s new trade barriers will be a blow not only to American consumers, but also to the e-commerce companies that have cashed in on the de minimis exemption. Shein, a Chinese apparel group whose largest market is America,

The president’s tariffs against China, Mexico and Canada eliminated a trade exemption used by low-cost retailers.

Shein and Temu shifted more of their orders to be fulfilled in the US ahead of de minimis changes.

Trump revoked a tax loophole that saved companies tens of billions of dollars in fees on imports. Prices on such orders could now go up an average of 30 percent.

Americans love Shein, Temu and AliExpress for two reasons: low prices and fast shipping. Trump’s tariffs could change that. His tariff orders reversed a long-standing shipping loophole: the de minimis exemption.

Chinese e-commerce giants Temu and Shein have been preparing to maintain their U.S. customer base following the end of the de minimis exemption.

When President Trump pushed ahead with a 10% tariff on all Chinese merchandise, he also closed the century-old de minimis exemption, which allows packages worth under $800 to be shipped into the country duty-free.