Industry experts predicted that a recent US crackdown on customs brokers processing billions of dollars’ worth of low-cost online shopping purchases from behemoths like China-linked SHEIN and Temu would result in delivery delays and bottlenecks.
In part due to worries that contraband was being imported into the nation through these brokers, US Customs and Border Protection stated late last week that it had stopped “multiple” brokers from an accelerated clearance programme for such duty-free, direct-to-consumer imports. Experts in customs said that although the agency did not give a figure, they were aware of as many as six suspended businesses.
This action is a component of a CBP initiative that also involves reviewing electronic information submitted by customs brokers and conducting more inspections of similar items at American airports.
The crackdown coincides with projections of over 1 billion shipments, valued at an average of US $ 50, arriving in the United States this year due to strong consumer demand for fast-fashion manufactured in Chinese factories, among other things.
The faster clearance process is accessible for direct-to-consumer shipments valued at US $ 800 or less, and is relied upon by Chinese-owned e-retailer Temu and e-commerce giant SHEIN, which is attempting to increase its market share prior to going public. In order to expedite processing, US brokers handling those items electronically send shipping information to CBP.
