China no longer has a de minimis trade exemption. What is it?
The trade loophole is meant to ease small-scale sales — but critics say it's been abused and gives Chinese firms an unfair advantage.
![China no longer has a de minimis trade exemption. What is it?](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5816x3272+0+1/resize/1400/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffd%2Fa3%2Fc4a4a96240808391fc884b7c54d8%2Fgettyimages-2197627323.jpg)
![President Trump has ended the de minimis duty-free exception for China, as part of his imposition of tariffs. The app for Shein, the Chinese-founded discount online retailer, is seen here on a smartphone.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5816x3917+0+0/resize/5816x3917!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffd%2Fa3%2Fc4a4a96240808391fc884b7c54d8%2Fgettyimages-2197627323.jpg)
The trade loophole is meant to ease small-scale sales — but critics say it's been abused and gives Chinese firms an unfair advantage.
(Image credit: Justin Sullivan)