US – China Trade Truce 2025: What It Means for Amazon and E-Commerce Sellers
Understanding the new tariff updates, the short-term relief, and what comes next for global logistics
After months of tension and uncertainty, the latest U.S.–China trade negotiations have resulted in a temporary truce.
The good news: tariffs on some Chinese consumer goods have been reduced.
The bad news: most duties remain historically high — and new increases may return as early as January 2026 if the current agreement isn’t renewed.
For Amazon and eCommerce sellers, this means temporary breathing room, not a reset. Let’s break down what’s changed, what’s next, and how Proboxx helps sellers stay competitive amid ongoing tariff shifts.
1. The Current Situation: What the Truce Really Covers
Following the October 30, 2025 talks, the United States agreed to modest tariff reductions on specific categories of consumer goods.
Key changes include:
A reduction of the so-called “fentanyl-linked tariffs” from 20% to 10% on many Chinese imports.
The average U.S. tariff on Chinese consumer goods has dropped from 57% to roughly 47%.
However, furniture, kitchen cabinets, and textiles still face heavy duties, with some set to increase again in 2026 if no further deal is reached.
Examples:
Upholstered wooden furniture: 25% now, rising to 30% in January 2026.
Kitchen cabinets and vanities: 25% now, rising to 50% if the deal lapses.
Apparel and textiles: remaining 21–37%, unchanged for now.
In other words, tariffs are lower — but far from gone.
2. The Bigger Picture: Why Tariffs Still Matter
For eCommerce sellers, tariffs aren’t just numbers in a headline — they directly impact your landed cost, profit margin, and competitiveness.
Even with temporary reductions, overall import duties remain far higher than in 2023–2024.
That means the cost base for many sellers is still 15–20% higher than pre-trade-war levels.
This affects:
Pricing flexibility: Sellers have less room to absorb increases in freight or FBA fees.
Product mix decisions: High-duty categories like furniture or textiles become less profitable.
Cash flow management: Higher duties mean more capital tied up in customs clearance.
Simply put, this truce slows the bleeding — it doesn’t heal the wound.
3. The Elimination of the “De Minimis” Exemption
Perhaps the most impactful update for cross-border sellers is the removal of the $800 de minimis rule.
Before, shipments valued under $800 could enter the U.S. duty-free and with minimal customs clearance.
Now, every parcel from China — regardless of value — faces tariffs and customs checks.
For Amazon and DTC sellers, this means:
Small parcel deliveries (like samples or test batches) are now taxable.
Direct-to-consumer dropshipping models from China have become less viable.
Customs processing time for small packages has increased by 20–30%.
If your business relies on frequent low-value shipments, you’ll need to rethink your logistics structure — perhaps by moving some inventory to the U.S. or using bonded warehouses.
4. Timeline: When Will These Changes Be Felt?
Retailers and logistics experts expect new tariff impacts to appear within 2–6 weeks of the announcement.
Large importers typically adjust prices within one month.
Online sellers feel the difference almost immediately, since carriers now must apply tariffs to every parcel.
Consumer prices for furniture, electronics, and apparel may remain 1.5–2% above pre-truce levels.
So, while the headlines talk about “tariff relief,” the reality for most sellers will be marginal improvement — not meaningful cost reduction.
5. What Amazon Sellers Should Do Now
This is the time to audit your supply chain and adapt to the new environment.
Here are five practical steps:
✅ 1. Review your product tariff exposure.
Work with your forwarder to identify HS codes with potential reductions or high-risk increases in 2026.
✅ 2. Reclassify when possible.
Sometimes a product can legally fit under a different HTS code with a lower duty. (Proboxx compliance experts handle this daily.)
✅ 3. Reevaluate your Incoterms.
Consider shifting from DDP to DDU where appropriate, to improve cash flow and simplify customs management.
✅ 4. Adjust your pricing strategy.
Use current relief periods to rebuild margin buffers before potential hikes in January 2026.
✅ 5. Diversify your sourcing regions.
Explore Vietnam, India, or Mexico for partial production to reduce dependency on China.
6. The Logistics Impact: Cross-Border Shipping Just Got Harder
With every shipment now subject to customs checks, sellers will face longer clearance times and higher paperwork costs.
Proboxx estimates that average cross-border shipping costs from China to the U.S. may rise by 8–13%, primarily due to:
Tariffs applied to small parcels
Additional customs brokerage fees
Longer processing times at entry ports
E-commerce sellers operating on slim margins will need to optimize logistics more carefully than ever before.
7. How Proboxx Helps Sellers Navigate the Tariff Landscape
At Proboxx, we work daily with Amazon and eCommerce sellers affected by these trade fluctuations.
Here’s how we help:
Tariff Strategy Support
We analyse your products’ HS codes and help identify duty-saving opportunities through correct classification and compliance review.
Intelligent Routing & Mode Optimization
Our system identifies the most cost-effective ports and carriers, balancing tariff exposure with speed.
Inventory Repositioning
We offer U.S. and EU warehouse options, so sellers can store closer to customers and reduce shipments subject to tariffs.
Customs Transparency
We ensure every shipment has full duty breakdown visibility — so you know exactly what you’re paying, and why.
Consultation & Forecasting
We help you prepare for future tariff scenarios by modeling “what-if” cost simulations for 2026.
8. What’s Next
This truce is valid for one year. If no new deal is reached by late 2026, tariffs on furniture, kitchen products, and textiles could double.
That means sellers need to:
Use the next 12 months to optimize cost structures.
Move toward regionalized inventory planning.
Strengthen compliance documentation.
9. Final Takeaway
This trade truce is a pause button, not an end.
For Amazon and eCommerce sellers, the best move now is to stay proactive, audit your landed costs, and build logistics flexibility.
At Proboxx, we’re not just freight forwarders — we’re your logistics strategy partners.
We help you turn uncertainty into opportunity, ensuring your products arrive on time, compliant, and cost-efficient.
📞 Want to review how tariffs impact your shipments?
Book a free consultation here and let’s plan your next step together.