UPS will reinstate a $0.29 per pound surcharge on all shipments from China, Hong Kong and Macau entering the U.S. on April 13, according to an announcement Friday.
The parcel carrier did not list an end date for the "Surge Fee," which has a rate that can be adjusted at any time. The fee applies to a shipment's billable weight and is also subject to UPS' fuel surcharge.
UPS previously levied the Surge Fee from March 16-29. The company said with the added surcharge, it aims to continue satisfying shippers' needs "without compromising on the quality or timeliness of service expected from us."
The surcharge's return comes as supply chains attempt to navigate volatile trade relations between the U.S. and China, and heavy price hikes for goods traveling between the two countries.
On Saturday, China's tariffs on U.S. imports will increase to 125% in response to a similar increase from the Trump administration. The U.S. is also set to eliminate the de minimis exemption for products from China and Hong Kong on May 2, exposing sub-$800 imports to the tariff onslaught.
The Surge Fee's return marks another potential charge for UPS customers to grapple with this year. The recent wave of added fees and rate increases from UPS and FedEx are pressuring parcel costs, with the TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index projecting ground delivery rates will jump 2.6% year over year in Q2.
