Global postal operators around the world are pressing pause on shipments of low-value parcels to the U.S., citing uncertainty over new customs rules after Washington moved to end the global 'de minimis' exemption.
The U.S. 'de minimis' exemption, which long allowed packages valued under $800 to enter with minimal paperwork, is set to expire on August 29 under a Trump executive order. All such parcels will now face applicable duties, but U.S. Customs has yet to clarify the technical process for duty collection and data submission. Postal services say this lack of guidance has forced them to pause operations.
DHL, via Deutsche Post in Germany, announced it will suspend acceptance and transport of business parcels to the U.S. from August 25, calling the new requirements a temporary logistical hurdle. PostNord, serving Sweden and Denmark, and Norway's Posten Bring have followed suit, awaiting instructions from U.S. authorities before resuming shipments.
Bpost in Belgium will halt parcel shipments from August 22, while the Czech postal service paused goods dispatch to the U.S. on August 21. Austrian Post will stop accepting U.S.-bound packages after August 25, and Spain's postal service will suspend low-value parcel shipments from that date, though letters, books and gifts worth $100 or less remain unaffected.
Australia Post has paused transit services for U.S.-bound parcels sent from third countries, but direct shipments from Australia to the U.S. will continue uninterrupted. E-commerce platforms are feeling the ripple effect: Etsy will suspend its U.S. shipping label service for national mail operators in Australia, Canada and the U.K., urging sellers to switch to carriers like FedEx and UPS that can prepay duties.
FedEx says its services remain unaffected, while UPS and the U.S. Postal Service have yet to comment. Small businesses, online sellers and shoppers are bracing for potential delays and extra fees as carriers and regulators work to adjust to the new tariff landscape.
With the August 29 deadline looming, the global postal community is racing to adapt. Shippers should stay in touch with their carriers for updates as this story unfolds at the intersection of trade policy and global e-commerce.
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Postal services halt U.S. shipments as Trump ends parcel tariff relief
cgtn.com
