On the same day when President Donald Trump delayed an end to a trade exemption aiming at some Chinese imports, the e-commerce Shopify published a blog post making its position in the American trade policy clear.
In the post, Shopify approved “Open Trade”, calling for regulators to give online traders “freedom to expand without restrictions imposed by geopolitical brinkmanship”.
“Without protection of small business, legitimate entrepreneurs suffer under policies aimed at curbing exploitation,” the post is read. “This increase in costs, disrupts supply chains and impedes cross -border trade.”
Shopify, a platform that hosts millions of local sellers and outside, has much to lose from the possible cancellation of the “de minimus” rule. The provision, which was signed in law in 1930, allows low -cost goods to enter the US without faced with taxes.
The Trump administration has argued that the de minimis rule makes it difficult for customs officials to identify the Fentanil shipments sent by mail. Trump quickly moved to close the rule, but turned the course on Friday in the face of pressure from traders and consumers.
Repetition is only temporary. The exclusion of De Minimis will be removed again after “adequate systems to be fully and appropriately processing and collecting tariff income”, according to a Trump executive order signed on Friday afternoon.
Shopify says the pause should be permanent. “De minimis defenses are essential for small businesses in international trade,” the company wrote in its post. “They exclude low -value shipments from taxes and tasks, keeping low costs and improving competition worldwide.”
Otava -based Shopify, which commands approximately 10% of the global emails market and facilitates over $ 20 billion in annual cross -border sales, is protecting its bets. This week, the platform widely enveloped a feature that allows traders to display and collect tasks during collection, as well as a search filter that makes it easier for consumers to buy from their home country.
In the near future, Shopify plans to issue updates “aimed at simplifying international sales treatment,” the company said in a blog post.
