The bottom of the barrel prices that have made Chinese-linked e-tailers Shein and Temu so popular with American consumers could soon rise if the Biden administration curtails their use of a trade law loophole.

The Biden administration is intensifying efforts to curb cheap imports from China, targeting e-commerce platforms like Shein and Temu that have taken advantage of the “de minimis” rule to bypass tariffs on low-value shipments.

In his announcement proposing to crack down on "unsafe, unfairly traded products," President Joe Biden accused China-founded e-commerce platforms selling cheap goods of abusing the "de minimis exemption" that makes shipments valued under $800 duty-free.

With the rise of Chinese e-commerce sites like Shein and Temu, the US has seen a surge in shipments claiming the duty-free exemption. These shipments have increased from 140 milli

The Biden administration will restrict the use of a trade provision that lets China-founded e-commerce giants more easily ship to the U.S., a move that comes amid bipartisan pressure to close what critics regard as a loophole.

Measures tightening customs waivers on low-value shipments of foreign goods going directly to U.S. consumers may undercut allegedly unfair cheaper pricing by Chinese e-commerce companies Shein and Temu.