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How One Tiny Fee Changed Global E-Commerce
Season 1
Episode 13
Published 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Description
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the de minimis rule — a obscure trade loophole that let Temu and Shein ship billions of dollars worth of goods into the US duty-free. They trace how a 1930s customs threshold designed for personal packages became the backbone of ultra-fast e-commerce, and why the Biden administration finally moved to close it in 2025. With specific numbers on package volumes, revenue losses, and the winners and losers of the reform, this episode explains how a single paragraph in trade law reshaped the entire retail landscape. Plus, a brief reflection on why keeping this show ad-free matters, and how listener support makes it possible.