As global trade shows signs of easing, the United States has once again raised its tariff barriers. Following previous restrictions on Chinese products like photovoltaic cells and thermal-formed fiber goods, the U.S. Commerce Department recently imposed or increased tariffs on six major categories of Chinese imports, with some rates exceeding 500% and reaching as high as 1,157.53%. These measures serve as a stark warning to cross-border e-commerce businesses, signaling tougher challenges ahead.
I. The New Normal: Permanently High Tariff Barriers
Beyond conventional reciprocal tariffs, the U.S. has consistently employed anti-dumping and countervailing duties to target specific Chinese export sectors. While the U.S. Commerce Department reduced China's overall tariff rate from 145% to 30% on May 12, 2025, it subsequently launched a wave of countermeasures against Chinese exports. Products including photovoltaic cells, thermal-formed fiber goods, float glass, erythritol, graphite, and silicon for anode materials were blacklisted and hit with prohibitive anti-dumping and countervailing duties—effectively blocking market access. This strategy of "public reduction but private increase" highlights the complexity and subtlety of U.S. trade protectionism.
II. Six Categories Under Fire: Analyzing the Impact
The latest U.S. Commerce Department actions primarily target these six categories of Chinese exports:
- Hardwood and Decorative Plywood: On June 12, 2025, the U.S. launched anti-dumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations against China, India, and Vietnam. Chinese hardwood and decorative plywood face a 504.07% anti-dumping duty—far higher than Vietnam's (138.04-152.41%) and Indonesia's (84.94%). This will severely pressure Chinese exporters on pricing and likely shrink their market share.
- Softwood Plywood: Investigations are ongoing, with rates expected to mirror the punitive levels seen in hardwood plywood cases. Chinese manufacturers must monitor developments closely and prepare legal defenses.
- Specific Brake Drums: On June 16, 2025, the U.S. imposed a 106.79% anti-dumping duty on Chinese brake drums, increasing export costs and weakening competitiveness in the U.S. automotive parts market.
- Low-Speed Personal Transport Vehicles: Electric scooters and hoverboards face combined AD/CVD rates of 519.23%, with some manufacturers hit by a staggering 1,157.53% total tariff—effectively shutting them out of the U.S. market.
- Temporary Steel Fencing: Chinese products face an 86.24% countervailing duty, with seven named companies subjected to rates ranging from 33.27% to 301.83%, creating uneven burdens among exporters.
- Slag Containers: A 294.43% anti-dumping duty was imposed on June 11, 2025, with additional CVD investigations pending—potentially leading to dual tariff pressures.
III. Survival Strategies for Cross-Border E-Commerce
To navigate escalating U.S. protectionism, cross-border e-commerce firms should adopt these measures:
- Diversify Markets: Reduce reliance on the U.S. by expanding into emerging markets like Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
- Enhance Value: Invest in innovation, design, and branding to justify higher prices and offset tariff impacts. Consider shifting production to low-tariff regions.
- Ensure Compliance: Study U.S. trade laws rigorously to avoid violations. Implement robust risk management systems to identify and mitigate trade risks.
- Collective Defense: Participate actively in anti-dumping investigations and collaborate with industry associations to mount stronger legal responses.
- Monitor Policy Shifts: Stay abreast of U.S. trade policy changes and adapt strategies swiftly to new regulatory environments.
In this era of heightened trade tensions, cross-border e-commerce businesses must remain vigilant, transforming challenges into opportunities to secure their position in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.