Wall Street Slips as Oil Prices Surge 5% on Iran-Hormuz Uncertainty 
Australia Housing Crisis Deepens as Worker Shortages Delay Homebuilding 
Treasury Wine Estates Shares Jump as U.S. Overhaul Lifts FY2026 Outlook 
Oil Prices Rise as Hormuz Reopening Remains Uncertain 
Nvidia Secures $500 Billion AI Infrastructure Push With Wall Street Giants 
Airbus Joins Air India A320 Altitude Drop Probe 
Meta Ordered to Pay $567M Over Child Safety Violations in New Mexico 
Shein Scales Back Vietnam Operations as US Trade Rules Shift 
Asian Stocks Rise as Weak US Jobs Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Yen Stabilizes After Intervention Slide as Australian Dollar Hits Eight-Week High 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await U.S. Inflation Data 
ASX Faces Legal Action Over Failed Blockchain CHESS Project 
Gold Prices Hold Near Seven-Week High as Markets Await U.S. Inflation Data 
S&P 500, Nasdaq Slip as Oil Jumps on Iran Tensions 
JPMorgan Plans More Asia-Pacific Hiring in 2027 as Corporate Banking Revenue Surges 
Nvidia Seen Beating Q2 Targets as Vera Rubin Cycle Begins 
Goldman Sachs Sees US Stock Buybacks Outpacing Equity Issuance as AI Funding Rises 
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has temporarily halted inbound parcel shipments from China and Hong Kong Posts starting February 4. However, letters and flat mail will continue to be accepted, according to the USPS website.
The agency has not confirmed whether this suspension is linked to former President Donald Trump's recent move to end 'de minimis' shipments from China and other nations. The de minimis rule allows duty-free imports valued under $800, benefiting e-commerce businesses. Nearly half of these shipments originate from China, according to a June 2023 U.S. congressional report.
Trump's plan includes a 10% tariff on Chinese goods and a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, though these were temporarily paused for a month. The policy aims to curb reliance on low-cost imports and strengthen domestic manufacturing.
This change could disrupt e-commerce businesses relying on small, low-value shipments from China, including platforms such as Temu, Shein, and Alibaba. With USPS suspending parcels, businesses may seek alternative shipping methods, potentially increasing costs and delivery times.
While USPS has not provided a timeline for resuming parcel acceptance, industry experts predict significant disruptions to international shipping and cross-border trade. The situation remains dynamic as regulatory policies evolve.
This development highlights growing trade tensions and the shifting landscape of U.S.-China commerce, impacting consumers, retailers, and logistics providers alike.
