Credit: Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
- As trade tensions escalate, duties on products coming directly from China will be triple the initial rate.
- Goods will be taxed at 90% of their value or a minimum of $75, increasing to $150 on June 1.
- This will come into force on May 2, when the de minimis exception closes in the US.
When it rains, it pours, and right now it’s pouring on fans of retro game emulation. Just last week, the Trump administration announced an end to the de minimis exception that removed taxes from products under $800 coming directly from China, with a 30% or $25 minimum duty to be levied starting in a few weeks. Now, as trade tensions escalate, those rates have tripled.
Starting on May 2, products coming directly from China will be subject to duties of 90% of their stated value. The minimum duty is $75, so nearly every retro gaming handheld will double in price after that date. On June 1, the minimum will increase to $150, making cheap handhelds a thing of the past.