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.

The US has proposed rules that would hit many low-value shipments from China with new taxes - a measure aimed at curbing the flood of packages from shopping sites such as Shein and Temu. The Biden administration said the plan was intended to stop "abuse" of an exemption that allowed packages worth less than $800 (£600) to enter the US without facing tariffs and other fees.