Ecommerce News

EU €3 Duty Starts on Low-Value E-commerce Parcels from July 1

By JiuFang Logistics
July 1, 2026

What Happened

The European Union starts a temporary €3 customs duty on low-value parcels imported from outside the EU on July 1, 2026. The measure applies to e-commerce goods worth up to €150, including common online categories such as clothing, toys, electronics and other consumer goods.

The European Commission says the change is intended to improve fairness and safety in a market where millions of low-value parcels enter the EU every day.

How the New Duty Works

The €3 duty applies per item based on tariff classification, not simply per package. The temporary duty is scheduled to remain in place until July 1, 2028, when the EU’s broader customs reform is expected to replace it with normal customs duties by product type.

Reuters also reported that France is suspending its separate €2 charge on low-value packages from outside the EU as the EU-wide fee begins. A further EU administration fee is expected to raise the total charge to €5 from November.

Why It Matters for China E-commerce Sellers

The rule directly affects China-based sellers and platforms using direct parcel shipping into Europe, including business models similar to Shein, Temu and AliExpress. Low-value parcel economics will change because duty now becomes part of the landed-cost calculation.

Sellers that previously priced EU orders around duty-free direct shipping should review product margins, checkout pricing, VAT handling, customs data and return policies.

Shipping and Fulfillment Impact

Direct small parcel shipping may remain workable for some products, but the new duty increases the importance of correct HS codes, product descriptions, declared values and IOSS-related data.

For repeat-selling SKUs, China-based sellers should compare direct parcel delivery with bulk replenishment to EU warehouses, Amazon FBA Europe or third-party fulfillment centers. Consolidated air freight or ocean freight may reduce per-unit logistics pressure when parcel-level duty and handling costs rise.

Sources

 
 

U.S. Retailers Frontload China Orders Ahead of Holiday Season

By JiuFang Logistics
June 30, 2026

What Happened

U.S. retailers are bringing forward orders from China by four to six weeks to secure inventory for Black Friday and Christmas before possible tariff changes later this year, according to Reuters reporting on June 30.

Shipping executives told Reuters that China-to-U.S. volumes in May and June were higher than expected. The usual July-to-September holiday shipping peak has started earlier as retailers move inventory ahead of potential cost increases.

China-to-U.S. Shipping Rates Rise

Drewry’s World Container Index for June 25 showed spot rates from Shanghai to New York rising 6% to USD 7,149 per 40-foot container, while Shanghai to Los Angeles increased 12% to USD 5,750 per 40-foot container.

Drewry said importers continued frontloading shipments ahead of possible tariff changes and higher bunker-related costs. It also noted tight Transpacific capacity and expected rates to rise further in the coming weeks.

Why Retailers Are Moving Earlier

Reuters reported that U.S. retailers are responding to tariff uncertainty, holiday inventory needs and tighter vessel space. Key China-origin exports in May included smartphones, lithium-ion batteries, solid-state drives, toys, kitchenware and festival products.

Early orders also included back-to-school goods, Christmas inventory and soccer World Cup-related products such as jerseys, flags, souvenirs and large-screen TVs.

What China Exporters Should Do

Exporters and e-commerce sellers shipping from China to the United States should book space earlier, review landed-cost assumptions and separate urgent replenishment from bulk inventory.

Amazon FBA, Walmart WFS, Shopify and private-warehouse sellers should check inventory deadlines, choose between air and ocean based on stockout risk, and confirm whether peak season surcharges affect current quotes before booking shipments.

Sources

 
 

Prime Day 2026 U.S. Online Spending Tops $26.4 Billion

By JiuFang Logistics
June 29, 2026

What Happened

U.S. shoppers spent more than USD 26.4 billion online during Amazon Prime Day 2026, according to Reuters reporting based on Adobe Analytics data. The June 23-26 event grew 9.3% from the previous year and exceeded Adobe’s earlier forecast of USD 26.3 billion.

The four-day event also overlapped with competing promotions from major U.S. retailers, turning the period into a wider online discount cycle beyond Amazon alone.

Products and Sales Channels

Reuters reported that strong discounts helped drive purchases of electronics, toys, appliances and personal care items. At the same time, shoppers remained price-sensitive, with many consumers focusing on essentials, back-to-school goods and value-driven purchases.

The data shows that U.S. online demand remains strong during major sale periods, but conversion depends heavily on discounts, inventory availability and delivery confidence.

Why It Matters for China-Based Sellers

For China-based sellers on Amazon, Walmart Marketplace, Shopify and other U.S. e-commerce channels, Prime Day performance is a direct signal for inventory planning. Strong traffic can quickly expose weak SKU-level stock, slow inbound shipments, poor pricing and limited local fulfillment capacity.

Sellers that rely only on late direct shipping from China may miss peak demand windows. Sellers with inventory already positioned in Amazon FBA, Walmart WFS, U.S. overseas warehouses or private warehouses are better placed to capture short promotion cycles.

FBA and Warehouse Replenishment Actions

After Prime Day, sellers should review sell-through by SKU, check remaining FBA and warehouse stock, and decide whether urgent replenishment requires air freight or express shipping from China.

For stable-demand SKUs, ocean freight to Amazon FBA, Walmart WFS or U.S. overseas warehouses can help reduce per-unit logistics cost. Sellers should also plan for returns, back-to-school demand and holiday-season inventory before confirming new production or freight bookings.

Sources

 
 

CPSC Recalls China-Made Products Sold on Amazon and Walmart

By JiuFang Logistics
June 26, 2026

What Happened

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued several recalls on June 25, 2026 involving products manufactured in China or sold by China-based sellers. The recalls covered toys, youth ATVs, LED party favors and lithium-ion power banks.

The cases show that product safety compliance remains a material risk for China-origin goods sold through U.S. e-commerce channels.

Products and Sales Channels

CPSC recalled Honlyne LED party favors sold on Amazon.com from June 2024 through December 2025 because accessible button cell batteries could pose serious ingestion hazards. About 13,400 units were affected, and the retailer was Huizhou Rongheng Network Technology of China.

CPSC also recalled Small Fish Montessori Busy Board toys sold on Amazon.com from March 2026 through May 2026 because magnets can detach and create a deadly ingestion hazard. The distributor was Lesonic Technology Co., Ltd., dba Small Fish, of China.

Another recall covered XW-A17 Electric Youth ATVs sold on Amazon.com and Walmart.com from October 2025 through December 2025. The products were manufactured by Yongkang Ruihe Metal Products Co. Ltd. of China and recalled for violating the mandatory ATV safety standard.

CPSC also recalled Super Off-Road 12,000 mAh Solar Wireless Power Banks manufactured in China because the lithium-ion battery can swell and overheat. About 7,400 units were recalled in the United States, with about 4,964 additional units sold in Canada.

Why It Matters for China-Based Sellers

For China-based sellers, the recalls highlight the need to verify product safety standards before exporting to the United States or Canada. Children’s products, battery-powered goods, toys, ATVs and other regulated consumer products can trigger recalls, refunds, listing removal and customs or platform scrutiny if compliance records are incomplete.

Sellers using Amazon FBA, Walmart WFS, private warehouses or direct parcel shipping should treat safety documentation as part of logistics readiness, not as a separate after-sales issue.

Shipping and Import Compliance Actions

Before shipping from China, sellers should confirm whether each SKU requires a Children’s Product Certificate, General Certificate of Conformity, test report, warning label, tracking label or battery documentation.

Importers should align product data, HS codes, supplier records, test reports and marketplace compliance files before booking air freight, ocean freight or small parcel shipments to the United States, Canada, Europe or Australia.

Sources

 
 

CPSC eFiling Rules Add New Import Compliance Step for China-to-U.S. Consumer Goods

By JiuFang Logistics
June 25, 2026

What Happened

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is preparing for mandatory eFiling of certificate data for many imported regulated consumer products. CPSC is highlighting that eFiling requirements begin July 8, 2026.

The rule affects importers of consumer products subject to CPSC certification requirements, including many children’s products and certain general-use consumer products sold through U.S. retail and e-commerce channels.

What Changes on July 8

For imported consumer products subject to CPSC certification, importers must electronically file certificate data as of July 8, 2026. Products entered from a Foreign Trade Zone are scheduled to come under the requirement on January 8, 2027.

CPSC says the eFiling program is a modern approach for filing certificate data and provides role-based guidance for importers, brokers and software developers.

Why It Matters for China-Based Sellers

China-based sellers exporting consumer goods to the United States should treat CPSC eFiling as a customs readiness issue, not only a product safety issue. If required certificate data is incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable at entry, shipments may face clearance delays or additional review.

Categories such as toys, children’s apparel, nursery products, lithium-battery consumer products and other regulated goods require closer review before shipment.

Shipping and Customs Impact

Importers, freight forwarders and customs brokers should confirm which SKUs require a Children’s Product Certificate, General Certificate of Conformity or other certificate data before goods leave China.

For e-commerce sellers shipping to Amazon FBA, Walmart WFS, U.S. overseas warehouses or private addresses, CPSC eFiling increases the need for clean product data, test reports, factory information, HS codes and responsible-party records before booking air freight, ocean freight or small parcel shipments.

Sources

 
 

UK Brings Forward End of Low-Value Parcel Duty Relief

By JiuFang Logistics
June 24, 2026

What Happened

The UK government will bring forward the end of customs duty relief on low-value imports by six months, according to Reuters. The change targets a duty relief system used by overseas online retailers sending low-value parcels into the UK.

The revised timeline moves implementation to October 2028, earlier than the previous March 2029 deadline.

What the Rule Change Covers

Current UK rules allow commercial low-value imports valued at £135 or less to claim customs duty relief. The UK government consultation says the relief will be removed and that new customs arrangements are being developed for low-value imports.

The reform is intended to create fairer competition between UK retailers and overseas sellers, while improving customs treatment of fast-growing e-commerce parcel volumes.

Why It Matters for China E-commerce Parcels

The issue directly affects direct-to-consumer parcel shipping from China to the UK. Reuters said the policy is aimed at a loophole that benefits online retailers, particularly Chinese platforms such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress.

For China-based sellers, the shorter timeline means customs cost, product pricing, declared value strategy and marketplace compliance should be reviewed earlier.

Shipping and Fulfillment Impact

Direct parcel shipping may remain usable before the new rules take effect, but sellers should prepare for higher parcel-level compliance and landed-cost pressure. Bulk shipping to UK warehouses, Amazon FBA, local fulfillment partners or overseas warehouses may become more competitive for repeat-selling SKUs.

Sellers shipping from China to the UK should review HS codes, product values, VAT handling, return costs and the split between direct parcel delivery and bulk replenishment before future peak seasons.

Sources

 
 

Prime Day 2026 Shifts Toward Essentials as U.S. Shoppers Turn Price-Sensitive

By JiuFang Logistics
June 23, 2026

What Happened

Reuters reported on June 22 that Amazon Prime Day 2026 will test U.S. consumer spending strength as shoppers focus more on essentials, household goods and back-to-school items instead of discretionary purchases.

The event runs from June 23 to June 26, earlier than the usual July schedule. Reuters reported that the 96-hour event is expected by Bank of America to generate USD 21.6 billion in goods sold.

What the Market Signal Means

The shift toward basic goods suggests that shoppers are becoming more price-sensitive. Reuters reported that inflation and higher gas prices are pushing lower- and middle-income consumers to wait for discounts on everyday products.

Rival sales from Walmart and Target are also overlapping with Prime Day, turning the period into a broader U.S. retail discount event and increasing price competition across marketplaces.

Why It Matters for China-Based Sellers

For China-based sellers shipping to Amazon FBA, Walmart Marketplace, Shopify stores or U.S. private warehouses, the main issue is not only traffic volume. Product mix, price competitiveness and available inventory will determine whether Prime Day demand converts into sales.

Categories tied to essentials, children’s products, apparel, electronics accessories and household goods may see stronger demand, while higher-ticket discretionary products may require sharper pricing or more selective inventory planning.

Inventory and FBA Fulfillment Priorities

Amazon’s seller guidance recommends reviewing inventory levels before Prime Day because sales events can drive higher traffic and stockout risk. Sellers should also prepare ads, deals, coupons, storefront content and A+ Content with enough time for review and approval.

China-based sellers should separate urgent replenishment from bulk restocking. Air freight or express shipping may support urgent SKUs, while ocean freight, Amazon FBA, Walmart WFS or U.S. overseas warehouse inventory can help reduce per-unit logistics cost for stable demand.

Sources

 

 
 

Shopify Spring ’26 Adds Cross-Border Controls for China E-commerce Sellers

By JiuFang Logistics
June 18, 2026

What Shopify Announced

Shopify released its Spring ’26 Edition on June 17, introducing more than 150 updates across product discovery, checkout, payments, markets and merchant operations.

The update expands Shopify Catalog and the Universal Commerce Protocol, which Shopify says can help eligible product data appear across AI shopping experiences and other commerce surfaces.

Cross-Border Features for Sellers

New Channel Markets controls allow merchants to set prices, product availability and currency by sales channel. Shopify also added product-level disclosures for safety and regulatory notices, plus checkout address validation designed to prevent non-compliant shipping addresses.

These updates are relevant to merchants managing different offers, delivery rules and compliance requirements across destination markets.

Why It Matters for China-Based Brands

For China-based Shopify sellers, country-specific prices and availability can help align storefront settings with landed cost, shipping capacity and local demand. Product disclosures and cleaner address data can also support more accurate cross-border order handling.

The updates do not replace customs, tax or logistics requirements. Sellers still need accurate product data, destination-country compliance checks and confirmed delivery coverage before accepting orders.

Fulfillment Planning for USA, EU, AU and Canada

Sellers should match storefront availability to real inventory positions. Fast-moving or high-volume products may be better stocked in Amazon FBA, overseas warehouses or local fulfillment locations, while lower-volume SKUs can use direct parcel delivery from China where service and landed costs remain suitable.

Before enabling new markets or campaigns, sellers should verify inventory allocation, destination-specific pricing, shipping address rules, returns handling and expected delivery times.

Sources

 
 

UK Considers Faster Tax Crackdown on Shein and Temu Parcels

By JiuFang Logistics
June 17, 2026

What Happened

UK ministers are reviewing whether parts of the country’s planned reform of low-value import rules can be accelerated, according to The Times. The review follows pressure from British retailers that say the current system gives overseas e-commerce platforms, including Shein and Temu, an unfair advantage.

The Current £135 Low-Value Import Rule

The issue is directly tied to China-origin direct-to-consumer parcel shipping. Reuters previously reported that UK retailers asked the government to impose an urgent £2.60 customs duty on low-value overseas parcels, arguing that platforms such as Shein, Temu, AliExpress and Amazon Haul benefit from the current waiver on parcels worth less than £135.

If the UK accelerates reform, China-based sellers may face earlier changes to parcel-level customs cost, landed-cost calculation, product pricing and compliance documentation.

Shipping and Fulfillment Impact

Direct parcel shipping from China to UK consumers may remain viable in the short term, but sellers should prepare for tighter customs treatment. Bulk shipping to UK warehouses, Amazon FBA, local fulfillment partners or overseas warehouses may become more attractive if parcel-level duties or fees increase.

Sellers should review HS codes, product values, marketplace pricing, return handling and the split between direct parcel shipping and bulk replenishment before the 2026 peak season.

Sources

 

 
 

AI-Referred U.S. Shoppers Spend More, Raising Fulfillment Stakes for China Sellers

By JiuFang Logistics
June 16, 2026

What Happened

U.S. shoppers who use large language models such as ChatGPT and Gemini for purchase recommendations are spending more time on retailer websites and are more likely to purchase, according to Reuters reporting based on May 2026 Adobe Analytics data

Key Data from Adobe Analytics

Reuters reported that shoppers referred to retail websites from large language models generated 53% more revenue per visit than non-AI traffic. AI-referred retail visitors also converted at a rate 54% higher than other online shoppers and spent 53% more time on e-commerce websites.

The data suggests that AI-assisted shopping is becoming a higher-intent discovery and referral path for online retail, especially when product pages are clear, structured and easy for AI tools to interpret.

What This Means for China-Based Sellers

For China-based sellers serving U.S. consumers through Amazon, Walmart Marketplace or Shopify-powered independent stores, AI shopping discovery may increase the importance of accurate product titles, clean specifications, searchable content, transparent pricing and reliable delivery promises.

When AI tools send shoppers to a product page with stronger purchase intent, sellers need to make sure inventory, replenishment and delivery capacity can keep up with demand.

Fulfillment Risks Sellers Should Watch

Higher-intent AI-referred traffic can create faster demand spikes for selected products. Sellers shipping from China should keep replenishment plans aligned with campaign traffic, marketplace promotions and stockout risks.

For urgent inventory needs, air freight or express shipping may help restore stock faster. For planned replenishment, bulk ocean freight to Amazon FBA, Walmart WFS or U.S. overseas warehouses can help reduce per-unit logistics costs and improve local delivery speed.

How Sellers Can Respond

China-based sellers should review their product visibility, inventory buffer and fulfillment routes together. A stable China-to-U.S. logistics plan can help sellers respond to AI-driven demand without sacrificing delivery reliability.

JiuFang Logistics supports cross-border sellers with China-to-U.S. air freight, ocean freight, overseas warehousing and local delivery solutions, helping sellers build more stable fulfillment for changing e-commerce traffic patterns.

 
 

If You’re Ready to Step into a Bigger Picture of Success, Let’s Talk.