FedEx adds instant surcharge based on where a package is from – and you’ll have to check fine print to dodge the fees

IT just got pricier to ship small packages into the US and some customers won’t see it coming.

A quiet change kicks in next month that could catch online sellers and consumers off guard.

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FedEx is rolling out a fresh surcharge on packages entering the US from China and Hong Kong starting May 2.

The fee won’t break the bank, but customers could still get caught off guard if they’re not reading closely.

The fee, which runs through May 2, is set at $0.45 per pound, with a $1 minimum per shipment.

The move lands as US trade pressure on Chinese imports intensifies under President Trump’s latest tariff rules.

Many businesses are rushing to ship goods earlier than usual to avoid mounting costs linked to the White House’s aggressive trade posture, Supply Chain Dive reported.

That includes increased enforcement on the de minimis exemption a loophole that’s let shippers bypass duties on packages worth under $800.

Now, that exemption is ending for goods from China and Hong Kong.

FedEx will charge importers a new customs-related fee for those lower-value shipments.

If the item is valued at $800 or less, it will face a Disbursement Fee of either $4.50 or 2% of duty and tax, whichever is higher.

But shippers using third-party billing to pay duties abroad won’t escape either.

In those cases, FedEx will hit them with a Duty and Tax Forwarding Fee, this one steeper, $8.50 or 2%, again whichever is higher.

These new charges apply only to international package and express freight services.

Shipments over $800 will keep the current fee structure for now.

FedEx confirmed the change in its official service guide.

SMALL BUSINESSES IMPACTED

The timing coincides with FedEx and rival UPS bringing back China-to-US surcharges after months of cost turbulence on the trade route.

Many shippers are now scrambling to reconfigure their logistics strategies.

The Trump administration’s tariff moves have already led to inventory gluts, warehouse congestion, and rerouted supply chains.

Smaller businesses, in particular, have been hard-hit by sudden cost hikes and unstable customs rules.

FedEx executives addressed the pending change in a March earnings call.

“We feel very ready to execute the necessary change,” said EVP and Chief Customer Officer Brie Carere, calling Asia the most impacted region.

She added the company is “working with customers to help them navigate the market.”

EVP and CFO John Dietrich suggested the surcharge wouldn’t rock the company’s bottom line — but it may for small sellers.

CHINA AND TRUMP

President Trump has doubled down on his hardline trade stance, warning that the US needs to be battle-ready, even in business.

He said his sweeping tariffs are about more than dollars, they’re about defense.

Trump declared he doesn’t want America relying on China for critical resources if war breaks out.

“No country is getting off the hook,” he said, just days after temporarily pausing reciprocal tariffs tariffs for 90 days.

Despite the 90-day pause on tariffs, customers noticed a surcharge that has appeared across several industries, as reported by Fox News.

The extra fee has impacted companies and consumers that import items from China, which has been hit with a 145% import tariff.

In some cases, companies charge consumers flat fees while other times they charge a percentage of the total cost.

Meanwhile, Amazon’s CEO Andy Jassy anticipated that President Trump’s tariffs would cause prices to increase for consumers, although he is still waiting to see how everything plays out.

He said tariffs are one of the many factors that the retailer looks at when analyzing what could impact consumers.

He said the company is doing everything to make sure costs stay as low as possible for consumers.