The U.S. government on Friday ended the “de minimis” exemption, a rule that had allowed goods worth less than $800 to enter the country without paying customs duties. This change means that every package sent to the U.S., no matter its value, must now go through customs and may face tariffs.
The decision has caused big disruptions. More than 30 countries have stopped postal services to the U.S. because they do not have the systems in place to handle these new customs requirements. The Universal Postal Union (UPU), which coordinates international postal services, said the move will require “major operational changes.” It added that at least 25 member countries have already suspended outgoing mail to the U.S., citing confusion about transit rules and customs procedures.
Several Countries Announced a Pause in Postal Services to US
The list includes many major nations: Australia, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, and others across Europe and Asia. Mexico also announced that it has halted package deliveries to the U.S.
Big delivery companies have been affected too. DHL Group, part of Deutsche Post in Germany, said it had to place “probably temporary” restrictions on shipments to the U.S. because of uncertainty about collecting duties and meeting new data rules. PostNord, the government-owned postal service of Sweden and Denmark, also said it would pause U.S. deliveries, saying there wasn’t enough time to adapt to the changes.
National postal agencies are responding in different ways. France’s La Poste suspended standard parcel services to the U.S. on August 22, while Australia Post also stopped sending parcels for now but said it is working with authorities to restore services. India Post suspended all mail categories worth up to $100, saying carriers were unable to move packages to the U.S. under the new system.
Customers and Tiny Firms Likely to Face the Brunt
The suspension of services is expected to hit customers and small businesses the hardest. An expert said that parcel deliveries will face delays since all items must now clear customs. Small businesses are more vulnerable as larger companies are better able to absorb extra costs and adapt to rule changes, he said.
Even U.S. e-commerce platforms like Etsy and eBay have started warning their customers about possible shipping delays and disruptions.
The Trump administration has defended the move, saying that the old exemption was being misused by traffickers, especially for sending fentanyl into the U.S.
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