Yap - Brenna tries to summarize tariffs as of 2/9/2025 in the scope of the gyaru community (tariffs and the de minimis exemption)

Hi everyone! It's time for me to talk about my special economic interest these past few months, the de minimis exemption, and how the current administration's attempts to repeal it and uncertain future can affect the United States gyaru community. 

Of course, tariffs affect EVERYONE!! But as of right now I want to blog for any gyaru who are just confused as what is going on. Also please note this is in scope for folks in the United States!!! This does not apply to my friends in other countries!!

Also I am googling to doublecheck my facts but like I highly recc you all research this yourself as this develops. I am not a scholarly resource you cannot source me for your papers ok.

Please note that I am blogging this February 9th 2025, who knows what it will be like tomorrow. I'm blogging during the superbowl so let's hope that nothing happens during!

Ok, as of right now: There is a 10% tariff on items coming out of China, and Tariffs in Mexico and Canada are currently not in effect, but would be 25% if they do go into effect. The de minimis exemption suspension is on pause (if it were to go into affect, it would be just for these countries).

Now you may be like, what the hell is the de minimis exemption? In the simplest of terms: If your shipment is valued at less than 800 USD, your shipment is not subject to US tariffs. 

For example: Diable Baiser One Piece that came in this week? It was valued at about 50 dollars, so no tariffs. The very overprices Alba Rosa coat I bought back at the end of 2023 for 1800 dollars? Yep... an extra 500 in customs fees and I've never spent that much money on a mercari JP order again..

Now, from Tuesday to Friday, the US decided that any shipments that came into the US from CHINA ONLY had to pay customs, no matter the value. Basically, suspending the de minimis exemption. I saw someone post their 100+ dollar Shein order now costed them an extra 42 dollars! Oh boy... 

But, as of Saturday, the suspension of the de minimis exemption for items from China is on pause basically because there was not enough resources for Customs to now do extra work for an extra million packages a day. That's not exaggeration. About 4 million packages come in through de minimis daily, about half of those are from China, with over 30% of those 4 million being from Shein or Temu.

Now you might be wondering "how long?" basically, until there's adequate infrastructure and staffing in place to support an extra million packages a day. So basically no idea. I also have no idea if any new tariffs places in random countries will get rid of de minimis or if it'll be a full hold off until it can happen for China.

Ok. IF you read all that, that's the example summary of this week. I'm gonna take this time now to document some brief thoughts on how if they re-suspend the de minimis.

I think for gyaru, keep an eye out on news in regards to Japan, there seems to be a maaayyybe based on a comment from Meow on another post, which I looked into, but it seems Japan is working against that.

For China, I think the suspension of de minimis would definitely cause an issue when it comes to the push for Cfashion into our gyaru wardrobes, a lot of gyaru use taobao, and if we have to pay more money to get things over, gals might not be as willing to pay an extra arm and a leg for a new piece. I know Cinnagal/Jax has been talking a lot about Cfashion too, and I think 2025 is going to have a huge push for cfashion as the jfashion sphere struggles to being back the classic heisei gyaru look (they kind of are, but for me personally nothing aside from the one recent diable baiser release as piqued my interest). 

For like when is what going to happen... who knows. Will the eagles win the superbowl? I'm kind of hoping for the sake of my brother in law because he gets off work if they do.