Japan to Levy 10% Consumption Tax on All Low-Value Imported Goods Starting 2026

Japan to Levy 10% Consumption Tax on All Low-Value Imported Goods Starting 2026

1.The Tax System Research Commission of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party has proposed a tax system amendment. Starting 2026, the tax exemption policy for imported goods valued below 10,000 yen will be abolished, meaning all imported goods will be subject to a 10% consumption tax. Meanwhile, the special 0.6-times tax rate for personal imports will be canceled, and overseas platforms with annual transaction volumes exceeding 5billion yen will be required to collect and remit taxes on behalf of sellers.

This move is primarily targeted at cross-border commodities from China. In 2024, 90% of the 170 million low-value imported goods in Japan originated from China, significantly impacting platforms such as Temu and Shein.Currently, many countries including the United States and Vietnam have followed suit in scrapping low-value import exemptions, and the European Union also plans to abolish relevant policies in 2026.

USPS May Resume DDU Services

2.The United States Postal Service (USPS) is re-evaluating its last-mile delivery cooperation model and may reopen the Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) network access service. The DDU model requires senders to sort packages by 5-digit zip codes and deliver them directly to local post offices, with USPS handling the final-mile delivery. The network access price under this model is significantly lower than the currently promoted DSCF model.

Previously, the former USPS Postmaster General deemed the DDU model incompatible with USPS's long-term strategy, fully closing DDU channels for agent companies and retaining only a small number of direct clients. This forced a large number of packages to switch to the DSCF model. As market conditions evolve and e-commerce demand for low-cost last-mile delivery surges, industry calls for the restoration of DDU have grown louder. Sources indicate that UPS has taken the lead in restarting DDU cooperation negotiations with USPS, with the new contract expected to take effect in January 2026. Industry insiders predict that once UPS becomes the first major client to resume DDU cooperation, the restoration of DDU services for other large clients and logistics agents will follow suit.

Major Amazon Seller Collapses! Suppliers to Foot the Bill for Huge Outstanding Payments

3.iRobot, once the leading seller in the robotic vacuum cleaner category on Amazon, is facing a severe financial crisis. Its massive accounts receivable have been acquired by its Shenzhen-based suppliers.

iRobot issued an announcement stating that the company is grappling with serious liquidity crises and debt default risks. Its outstanding loans totaling 191 million US dollars were ultimately acquired by Santrum, a subsidiary of Picea-an affiliate of Shenzhen Shanchuan Robotics Co., Ltd., one of iRobot's core suppliers.

Founded in 1990 by three members of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, iRobot initially designed robots for space exploration and military defense applications. In 2002, iRobot launched the Roomba, a household cleaning robot that became a blockbuster product and a perennial bestseller in the robotic vacuum cleaner market. In 2015, iRobot held a global market share of over 60%, including more than 80% in the US market and 70% in the Japanese market.

However, in recent years, iRobot has faced fierce competition from Chinese brands such as Ecovacs, Roborock, and Dreame on e-commerce platforms represented by Amazon, leading to a continuous decline in its market share on Amazon. Despite maintaining strong brand influence in European and American markets, iRobot's profitability has been severely challenged.

In August 2022, Amazon extended an acquisition offer, announcing its intention to acquire iRobot for a total transaction value of approximately 1.7 billion US dollars. However, the acquisition ultimately fell through. Amazon paid iRobot a 94 million US dollar termination fee, leaving iRobot to fend for itself and plunging the company into financial distress.

In the third quarter of 2025, iRobot reported a revenue of 146 million US dollars, a 24.6% year-on-year decrease compared to 2024. Meanwhile, its profit turned into a loss: from a profit of 15.1 million US dollars in the same period last year to a net loss of 9.9 million US dollars. The company previously announced that it is evaluating various solutions, including but not limited to asset sales, strategic transactions, and debt refinancing.

According to disclosures, Shanchuan acquired the 191 million US dollars of outstanding loans (principal plus interest) from affiliates of the original creditor, The Carlyle Group, thereby becoming iRobot's major creditor. As of November 24, 2025, iRobot still owes Shanchuan 161.5 million US dollars in product payments, of which 90.9 million US dollars are overdue. iRobot's announcement mentioned that the company and Picea are actively discussing a resolution plan for the unpaid amounts owed to Picea.

In other words, iRobot currently has liabilities of at least 350 million US dollars. Given its Q3 revenue and profit figures, repaying the debt seems a distant prospect.

At this juncture, as a supplier, Shanchuan has taken over iRobot's creditor rights. Will it further acquire iRobot's intellectual property rights and brand in the future, thereby transforming from a backend supplier to a front-end brand operator?