Need a new faucet for your RV’s kitchen sink? Tired of fishing for keys, so maybe you plan on a new keyless RV door lock? Holding tank smelling—maybe one of those “swivel sticks” that go on the end of a garden hose would be just the fix. These are some of the more popular purchases made by RVers through Amazon. But you may see the prices for these and millions of other products start to skyrocket. The de minimis exemption is now a closed loophole, and prices will jump. Even if you’re willing to pay the higher price, you may wait longer to get your purchases.
What is the de minimis exemption?
The so-called de minimis rule allowed foreign sellers to send low-value packages into the U.S., free of inspection and import duties. Packages valued up to $800 met the exemption, and some foreign suppliers, especially China, took to the exemption as a major tool. In 2023, China alone shipped in $66 billion worth of goods through the de minimis loophole. That translated to some four million small packages per day flowing into the country.
All that came to an end last Friday, by order of the Trump administration. The President attempted to shut down the de minimis exemption in February. His order had to be quickly reeled back in when it turned out the U.S. wasn’t ready to deal with collecting the import duties. Now some say the procedures are in place.
Most popular RV aftermarket purchases
Just how will RVers be affected? We looked to Amazon.com’s list of the most popular RV parts and accessories to see just where the stuff RVers are buying actually comes from. We’ve compiled a breakdown of items and their source. But here’s a heads-up. We’ve only included popular products where we could find out exactly what the country of origin is for those products. In MANY cases, Amazon couldn’t tell us just where a product was manufactured, so there may be plenty of products that could be hit by the closure of the de minimis exemption.
Some will find it ironic that Amazon sold nearly 1,000 replacement RV awnings, with a huge American flag to show to campground neighbors. Proudly manufactured in China.
Higher prices—and possible “supply disruption” issues
With the de minimis exemption gone, tariffs will be collected. In many cases, the tariffs will be passed along to the consumer. How much extra will you pay? When buying from Amazon, you won’t know. When it was suggested that the giant retailer would publish just how much a price change would be due to tariffs, Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos got a phone call from President Trump, indicating he was not pleased with such an idea. Amazon later indicated it never really planned to publish the information, and certainly wouldn’t after the call.
But higher prices aren’t the only issue for those who buy imported products. Companies handling the packages coming into the U.S. will need to collect the duties and handle the paperwork. In a story carried by AP News, a warning appears. Complying “with the new rule could result not only in higher prices but also delays and even disruptions to delivery, said Ram Ben Tzion of the vetting platform Publican.”
If the seeming trade war with China is resolved, prices may eventually head back down. If not, some U.S. companies may be able to fill the gap by taking up the manufacturing of products that are presently made on foreign shores. Just how much slack can be taken up by U.S. companies remains to be seen.
- Major U.S. tire manufacturers warn tariffs will drive up tire prices
- Tire dealers speak out: Tariffs are where the rubber hits your budget
- How will RVers be affected by latest tariffs?
- Dear RVer: Brace yourself – Tariffs may hit your wallet harder than expected
- How new tariffs will impact the RV industry
- Big trouble for RV industry? Tariffs could destroy jobs, cripple profits
RVT1208b
Don’t buy anything unless you absolutely need it. Many of us vote for Trump to lower prices. Not be vindictive and do things that raise prices. American products are to expensive, You want people to buy American, than lower your prices. Everyone wants to be a millionaire in a short time.
There is no policy that he has to lower prices. During campaign or now. It was always going to raise prices so not sure how you thought he was going to lower prices.
I support removing the de minimus exemption. Temu/Shein junk and the businesses they hurt is real. However, most businesses in the US need regular shipments from China on goods to produce new products & services. Small businesses drive this economy and they are getting destroyed. It is a pure power play by the billionaires to take more control
Look it up. Not hard to find. Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Asheville, NC, Wednesday, August 14, 2024. “Prices will come down,” Trump told voters during a speech last week laying out his vision for a return to the White House. “You just watch: They’ll come down, and they’ll come down fast, not only with insurance, with everything.”
There are global low cost options outside of China for businesses to source to if they just can’t be competitive with U.S. sourcing.
This is not a “vindictive” move. It’s a move to try to level what is a very unlevel playing field by the policies of the Communist Chinese State.
From currency value manipulation to gross government subsidization of industry to theft of intellectual property, the Communist State of China does everything it can to keep shipping its products to the U.S., and yes, U.S. businesses are complicit because “we the people” want lower cost which comes at a terrible long term price to our nation.
I worked in business in many countries, including China, for decades. When it comes to China, it’s as one sided as it gets. The sooner we get our dependence on them eliminated, the better.
Don’t fret mrpavet, he’s only been in office 100 days. Things take time, especially dealing with a country like China.
More countries are negotiating better trade deals and companies are increasingly moving their manufacturing back home.
If you saw that on the news, it’s because it is unusual, not enough of it to make a difference.
It’s only been 110 days Bill and only 2 months since April 2nd’s announced tarriffs. How many years did it take to create this disaster?
Maybe, just maybe, you can give it a single year? No! Half a year even?…. just 4 more months?
If after September 15th, the markets are not up 10% on the year and if less than 20 good deals have been made, take your victory lap.
$8 trillion of private company investments into America has been committed to in under 100 days. Did JB even get $1 trillion of private commitments in 4 years? Nope, I think not.
For those who don’t quite believe this, yesterday we bought a Christmas tree ornament from a Hallmark Store franchise to celebrate RV friends’ 50th wedding anniversary. The owner apologized at the price increase. While this stock was already on her shelf, she would have to replace it. That single ornament was $30, or about $10 higher than a few weeks ago. Let’s see 145% tariff on a $20 ornament, plus the Texas sales tax on that extra cost equals $10. .
For one, that’s BS about having to replace a tariff-free item at a higher price. The retailer doesn’t know that price yet! You cannot assume everything the mainstream media is pushing, then simply add that to your future inventory costs. Will the retailer even stock that item again? Adding a $10 surcharge and then blaming it on the administration is blatant price gouging with a scapegoat to divert attention from their greed.
Let’s not confuse propaganda with facts.
So you’re saying the commenter is offering some BS…..? At least he personalized the story, which almost brought a tear to my eye.
I can see that you have never been in retail and have to have the capital to replace inventory.
Should I have known that the Fear Mongers also wrote this article?
I did !
Yep, as usual I knew who wrote the article before I even scrolled down and found the confirmation. Always the maybe, could happen in their articles.
Soo quoting sources makes one a fear monger?
Let’s all stop RVing because opinions claim prices will be climbing.
When was the last year that prices didn’t climb? Definitely not since 2020.
Never fear! Opinions are here!
I’m sure I’m going to get stones thrown at me, but will say it (again), none of this would be an issue if we (all) did/do our best to buy products made in the USA to begin with. We purposely try to go to the manufacture’s site to order their product and check to see where it’s made. Yes, it may (or may not) cost a bit more, but we know it’s supporting American jobs. Our feeling is, had all of us been doing this all along, more items would have continued being built here (higher demand) and perhaps “this situation” wouldn’t have been needed.
No thrown stones from me, just sending compliments. Happy trails ✌️ 😎
I would buy USA made IF I knew what was made in the USA. Not all Craftsman tools (USA company) are made in the USA, Not all Matell (USA company) toys are made in the USA. BUT, I can buy a German Volkswagen MADE IN THE USA. It will always be a world economy. The British started drinking tea once they found China. We, of course dumped it all in Boston Harbor. Was that to spite the English or was it to spite China? If France and Spain hadn’t started sending ships out on the oceans we wouldn’t be in this situation.
It is a sad FACT that too much of our manufacturing has been handed over to this “World” economy which has been very aggressively screwing America for decades now and left our country with a $36T debt that has to be paid. We are heading towards bankruptcy quicker than Americans realize. So, yes, our toys are going to cost us more to play with until we balance out this debt, restore American manufacturing, and rebuild what our “leaders” have stupidly given away.
Rising prices have been the norm for decades as a result of the printing of money and government borrowing. Devaluation of the currency the result. All past administrations are guilty of allowing this to happen.
Some shallow partisan thinkers are incapable of discerning this fact and the ramifications.
You are right. Prices have been going up for at least 8 decades as far as I know. Nothing new about that. We want raises, prices go up to pay for them. We want another increase, and prices go up once again to pay for our raises. Been doing that for my lifetime, no matter which outfit is in Washington.
Thank you, Russ and Tina, for the information. Guess transparency is not acceptable with respect to some products. Well, regardless of which end of the horse I support, there is no sense beating it. Have a great weekend and safe travels!
Perhaps if the companies start building in this country we wouldn’t be in this situation.
Where do we find the people to fill the assembly line jobs?