News / US crackdown on imported fake goods and drugs means higher e-commerce costs

© Dmitrii Melnikov

Parcel shipments into the US are set to cost more as, in addition to rising charges for e-commerce sent by mail, the government is moving to raise charges to cover the cost of inspecting incoming parcels for counterfeit goods and illicit substances.

On 31 January, President Trump signed an executive order to boost the fight against illegal imports purchased by Americans over e-commerce platforms, which will affect online merchants overseas as well as US import channels like Amazon, eBay and Walmart.

The ...