Buying Android gaming handhelds in the US just got way more expensive (Update: Nope, on pause)

Update (2:47 PM on east time on February 7, 2025): After the importers have sent the importers to panic in the last few days, the Trump administration again departed from an aggressive change in the policy, today announcing that deleting the release of De minimis for importing goods with a lower cost is on an indefinite order. The White House explains that the United States resumes the adoption of this import without tariffs, while “Notification of the Minister of Trade to the President“ Notification of Commerce ”that adequate systems will fully and advisable to process and collect income from tariffs.”

In fact, he laid a cart in front of the horse and announced this a large change, not being ready to actually collect tariffs for all this. As soon as people and procedures for processing them are in place, the release from De minimis should be removed again. But before this day, it will come crazy for the topic.

Update (8:49 East time February 5, 2025): Official documentation from the customs and border patrol of the United States states that all deliveries from China will now be subject to formal payment for processing, regardless of their cost. USPS resumed the adoption of packages from China and Hong Kong, but will begin to collect fees and tariffs.

Original article (8:15 am and February 5, 2025): In recent years, the market of gaming portable departments exploded, but now everything has stopped with a short message on the Web Site Usps: “Effectively February 4. Hong Kong posts to further notification. “

Although the text says that it only affects the Chinese post and the post of Hong Kong, the reality was different. As reported WiredTransport companies already have trucks turned away at the border if they contain bags from China.

Almost every player in the market is produced in China and is usually sent from there. This applies to small companies sold on AliExpress and the favorites of fans, such as Retroid, which is sold on its own webcam.

It is worth noting that most of these supplies do not pass USPS, but the announcement will probably have a frightening effect on the rest of the industry. In the end, everything should go through the US customs, which has already strengthened verification and law enforcement.

This occurs from the recent order of President Trump, which not only adds 10% tariff to goods from China, but also excludes the customs exclusion of De minimis to goods of less than $ 800. Previously, this meant that packages could come to the United States without customs checks or fees, which leads to the prosperity of platforms such as AliExpress and Temu. According to estimates, 1.36 billion packages entered the United States thus in 2024.

The Biden administration also proposed the idea of ​​removing the liberation of De minimis, but has never finalized any plans. It is not yet clear what the results of this change will be, but buyers can look not only at taxes and tariff costs, but also at expensive customs fees.

According to Taki Udon, a popular portable reviewer and the creator, fixed customs fees can vary from 3 to $ 22 plus 35% of the declared value in taxes. For cheap portable devices that have flooded the market in recent years, this may be a game.