Chinese rescue teams returned to Beijing on Wednesday after successfully completing their mission to assist with earthquake relief efforts in Myanmar.
The teams, which included the China Search and Rescue Team, the China International Search and Rescue Team, and a team from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, arrived back at Beijing Capital International Airport aboard Y-20 transport aircrafts.
The operation, China's largest and fastest international rescue effort in recent years, lasted 12 days.
During that time, the teams rescued nine survivors, searched over 287,000 square meters of buildings and infrastructure, and provided more than 2,000 free medical consultations to those affected by the disaster.
The earthquake, which struck Mandalay on March 28, has claimed 3,649 lives, injured 5,018 people, and left 145 missing, according to the Information Team of Myanmar's State Administration Council on Wednesday.
Chinese rescue teams return home after completing mission in quake-ravaged Myanmar
U.S. consumers will see higher prices and slower deliveries after Friday's expiration of a duty-free treatment for Chinese imports under 800 U.S. dollars, known as the de minimis threshold.
According to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on April 2, starting from Friday (May 2), imported goods from China entering the U.S. through means outside the international postal network, which are valued at or under 800 U.S. dollars and would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption, will be subject to all applicable duties, which should be paid in accordance with applicable entry and payment procedures.
The order also leaves all relevant postal items containing goods from China sent through the international postal network, which are valued at or under 800 dollars and would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption, subject to a duty rate of either 30 percent of their value or 25 dollars per item (increasing to 50 dollars per item after June 1). It adds that this is in lieu of any other duties, including those imposed by prior orders.
It's estimated that the U.S. receives nearly four million low-value packages every day, most of which come from China. According to a report from the Congressional Research Services of the United States, low-value packages from China have skyrocketed from 5.3 billion dollars in 2018 to 66 billion dollars in 2023.
In response, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce has stated that the U.S. adjustment on its tariff policy on low-value imports is destructive and will seriously affect the interests of American consumers.
The ministry said that any adjustment to cross-border e-commerce should aim to bring more convenience to consumers.
The de minimis provision, which was introduced in 1938 for shipments of five U.S. dollars or less, allows low-value parcels to enter the U.S. tax free. In 2016, that threshold was increased to 800 dollars.
The policy was intended to reduce the administrative burden for U.S. customs, speed up e-commerce flow for both retailers and consumers, and encourage cross-border trade by lowering barriers for cheaper items.
U.S. consumers to feel pinch as duty-free treatment for cheap parcels from China ends
