International Postal Services Halt Shipping to the U.S.
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The expiration of a tariff exemption for low-value packages coming into the U.S. has led several international postal services to cease shipments while they seek clarity regarding the new regulations.
End of Duty-Free Exemption
The exemption, referred to as the “de minimis” exemption, allowed duty-free entry for packages valued under $800. In 2024 alone, over 1.36 billion packages were shipped under this exemption, totaling $64.6 billion in goods, as per U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.
Immediate Shipping Pauses
With the exemption set to expire on Friday, postal services throughout Europe announced on Saturday that they would temporarily halt shipments to the U.S., awaiting guidance on new import duties. Countries like Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Italy announced immediate suspension of most merchandise shipments, while France and Austria plan to follow suit on Monday.
UK’s Response
The UK’s Royal Mail indicated it would stop shipments to the U.S. on Tuesday to allow packages to arrive before the duty regulations begin. Items valued over $100 sent from the U.K. will incur a 10% duty, affecting personal gifts as well.
Unanswered Questions
DHL, Europe’s largest shipping company, expressed concerns over unresolved questions regarding how customs duties will be collected and what additional data will be necessary for compliance. The company announced it would stop accepting parcels destined for the U.S. from business customers starting Saturday.
Impact on European Postal Services
A trade agreement between the U.S. and the EU last month now imposes a 15% tariff on the majority of products shipped from the EU, affecting packages under $800. Many European postal services have opted to pause deliveries since they cannot ensure goods will clear U.S. customs before the August 29 deadline.
Future Uncertainties
Postnord, Italy’s postal service, and others have announced similar shipping suspensions. The lack of guidance from U.S. customs has made it difficult for postal operators to prepare adequately. As the deadline approaches, PostEurop, an association of European public postal operators, warned that if solutions are not reached by August 29, similar suspensions may become widespread across its members.
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Anderson reported from New York. Associated Press writers contributed from multiple locations including Paris, Thessaloniki, Vienna, London, and Amsterdam.
