Business owners, shoppers react, as US ends duty-free rule

The move, part of Washington’s effort to clamp down on cheap imports and close loopholes used by foreign merchants, means all packages entering the US – whether personal or commercial – are now subject to customs duties and taxes.

Couriers Brace for Impact

Leighton Onfroy, owner of Muss Come Couriers in Old Harbour, explained that the change will ripple through both shipping companies and their customers. “This means that packages will now have higher importation taxes and longer processing time at the customs office,” Onfroy said. “Small businesses in Jamaica will now have to raise their prices for their products, and shipping companies will also have to raise the prices they charge to collect their customers’ packages.”

Jamaicans should expect higher fees across the board, Onfroy added. “Shipper cost will be higher and customers will now have a longer wait time to receive their products. I would advise [small businesses] to plan for delays, raise their fees and also expect higher cost on U.S. purchases,” he said. 

Another courier service, which declined to be named, offered a more cautious view. “Note the change took place from May 2, 2025, but came into effect on August 29, 2025. Not much is out regarding its effect since the 29th. It seems the affected stakeholders – merchants in China, Amazon, Shein and Temu – started making provisions and changing up their logistics. Perhaps merchants have moved their warehouse to countries that can ship to the US without facing the severe tariffs. Also, they may have increased their fees and splitting packages but these would have been in effect from May so now, there won’t be any harsh changes,” said a representative.

Shoppers’ Reaction

Reactions among Jamaican shoppers are mixed. Wendy Forte, a frequent Amazon customer, said she is unfazed. “I don’t buy China-made. I buy only brand name on Amazon, so I don’t think this should affect me. If it does, I’ll stop shipping and just go to Miami when I want to because I have my visa,” Forte tells Old Harbour News. 

Anna Benjamin, a regular Shein and Temu user, expressed concern, stating: “I shop very frequent on Shein and Temu and don’t like what I am hearing about tariff. My shipping company recently raise per pound but I am not greatly affected by any other fee, so I am just hoping for the best.”

Meanwhile, Ian Bailey, a clothing vendor in May Pen, said he is watching closely. “I shop online most of the time to resell and I buy in bulk and pay $500 JMD per pound at my shipping company and that’s ok,” he said. “As long as my invoice is below US$100, I won’t pay any customs fee, but if I have to start paying any fee, I will have to go back to town to shop and stop shop online.”

Cost Analysis: What It Means for Jamaicans

Under the old de minimis rule, Jamaican shoppers could import packages under US$800 (approx. J$124,000) duty-free when shipped through US forwarding services. Now, those same packages will face tariffs ranging from 10% to 50%, depending on the product type and origin of country.

Example 1 – Clothing order (US$100 / J$15,500):

Before: No duty or tax, only shipping cost (approx. J$500 per pound).

Now: With tariffs between 10% and 50%, that same order could attract US$10 to US$50 (J$1,550 to J$7,750) in duties, plus possible processing fees.

Example 2 – Boutique reseller buying weekly (US$700 / J$108,500):

Before: No duty, only shipping costs.

Now: Depending on the tariff rate, duties could add US$70 to US$350 (J$10,850 to J$54,250) per order. Over four weeks, that’s an extra J$43,000 to J$217,000 per month, which small shops may have to pass on to customers.

Example 3 – Bulk vendor (10 pounds at US$50 per pound = US$500):

Before: Shipping charges only (about J$5,000).

Now: With tariffs from 10% to 50%, duties could range from US$50 to US$250 (J$7,750 to J$38,750) on top of shipping.

For some Jamaicans, especially those who buy brand-name goods, the effect may be minimal. But for the thousands who depend on low-cost online retailers like Shein and Temu – or for small resellers whose margins are already thin – the end of the US duty-free rule could mean higher prices, longer waits, and tough choices about whether to continue shopping online or buy locally.