Getting a package sent from outside the U.S. got a whole lot harder this week after a flurry of countries halted postal shipments. The move came after the suspension of the “de minimus” tariff exemption, which previously exempt packages worth less than $800 from import duties. This exemption ends Friday, August 29, and many countries have paused package shipments, at least temporarily, as they attempt to navigate the new rules.
According to data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, 1.36 billion packages came into the United States in 2024 under the de minimis exemption, totaling $64.6 billion worth of goods. The United Nations’ Universal Postal Union announced this week in a statement that at least 25 countries have halted postal shipments.
25 Countries Suspend Postal Shipments, UN Says
Postal services across the world have suspended shipments, saying they have not received sufficient guidance from the U.S. on how new duties will be collected. While the UPU did not provide a full list of the 25 countries it cited in its statement, various media reports indicate that, at a minimum, the following countries have suspended U.S.-bound postal shipments for the time being:
- United Kingdom
- Mexico
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Italy
- Belgium
- Austria
- Spain
- Netherlands
- Germany
- France
- Norway
- Australia
- Taiwan
- Japan
- Singapore
- India
- Thailand
- South Korea
- New Zealand
Related: Researchers Find Highest Microplastic Concentration in One Common Beverage
What Types of Shipments Are Impacted
An exemption remains in place for letters, documents, and gifts valued at less than $100. The shipment of goods and packages previously covered by the de minimus exemption, however, have largely been suspended across the globe. This will primarily impact the customers of online retailers, including companies that do large amounts of business through social media and online platforms like Instagram, Amazon Haul, and the TikTok Shop.
Exactly how much more expensive a package will be once shipping resumes will depend on the country of origin. Under the orders of President Trump, the United States now has a wide (and ever-changing) array of tariff rates on goods from individual countries, paid by the person or company importing the item.
Timeline for Resumption in Service Remains Unclear
“Key questions remain unresolved, particularly regarding how and by whom customs duties will be collected in the future, what additional data will be required, and how the data transmission to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be carried out,” said DHL, Europe’s largest shipping provider, in a press statement.
Translation: it might be a while before things get sorted out.
