US-based companies have rushed to Alibaba.com in the days following a 90-day halt on new tariffs between the United States and China. From May 12 to May 18, there was a sharp rise in activity, with US buyer inquiries to Chinese sellers jumping over 40% compared to the previous week.
This increase in demand reflects how quickly American businesses react to the temporary tariff truce. Many are trying to stock up on goods while they can still save money. Most buyers using Alibaba.com are small or medium-sized companies, and some already plan to order products for Christmas. Inquiries about holiday-related items rose more than 20% during the week.
Although Alibaba, which owns the South China Morning Post, did not issue a comment, sources familiar with the data confirmed the spike in activity. These sources asked not to be named as the figures were not publicly released.
Buyers stock up ahead of holiday demand
With the tariff pause in place, businesses in the US see this as a rare window to bring in stock before any new tariffs return. President Donald Trump introduced strict tariffs earlier in his second term, which drove up costs for importers and pushed many to delay or cancel orders.
Now, with a short-term break in place, US businesses are eager to secure inventory. This includes Christmas and seasonal products, which typically require advance ordering. Chinese sellers on Alibaba.com are seeing increased holiday-related requests from American buyers.
The trend is also being seen on other Chinese shopping platforms. In April, Alibaba.com briefly became the most downloaded shopping app on Apple’s iOS App Store in the United States, as reported by Chinese outlet Wallstreetcn.com, reflecting the growing interest from US users.
Chinese shopping apps gain ground in the US
Not only has Alibaba.com seen a rise in activity, but other platforms have also gained popularity. Taobao, Alibaba’s main domestic shopping site, and DHgate, another Chinese e-commerce app, climbed the charts in April in the App Store. At one point, DHgate became the second most downloaded free app in the US, just behind ChatGPT, according to data from Sensor Tower.
This renewed interest has allowed Chinese platforms to regain some ground after facing pressure from high tariffs. The 90-day pause is giving them a chance to handle bulk orders and adjust disrupted strategies.
However, not all restrictions have been lifted. The US government has not returned the “de minimis” duty exemption, which had previously allowed shipments under US$800 to pass through customs without extra fees. This exemption officially ended on May 2.
Shipping changes and price increases
Platforms such as Temu, owned by PDD Holdings, and Shein, the fast-fashion retailer, have had to change in response to the new customs rules. These companies built their success on sending packages directly from Chinese factories to American customers. Now, they’re facing higher costs.
Temu has started charging additional fees to customers in the US, while Shein has raised prices by over 300% in some cases. These changes reflect the impact of losing the “de minimis” benefit and the challenges of continuing with their previous shipping models.
Trade experts believe the 90-day tariff break will give Chinese e-commerce companies some breathing room to restock US warehouses at reduced costs. However, the long-term future remains uncertain, as tensions between the US and China are far from resolved.
