Postal services all over the world are stopping deliveries to the US while they get ready for big changes to tariffs. Starting on August 29, most packages coming into the US will no longer be exempt from fees, which is making carriers rethink how they do business.
The Trump administration has gotten rid of the long-standing rule that said packages worth less than $800 didn't have to pay tariffs. Starting this week, most packages sent to the US will have to pay full tariffs, which will make mailing costs go up a lot, as per a report by The Guardian.
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Postal services now have a hard choice to make: either pay the extra cost themselves or pass it on to their customers. For a lot of people, the quick fix has been to stop deliveries until new systems can be set up.
Not completely. Letters and personal gifts worth less than $100 are still not subject to tariffs, but packages worth less than $800 will now be. Some carriers have decided to stop only delivering packages, while others have stopped all shipments to the US, as per a report by The Guardian.
Items that get there before the deadline of August 29 will not be affected, but those that get there after that date may be sent back or charged extra duties.
By Tuesday, almost 30 international postal services had stopped delivering to the US, at least for some packages.
In Europe, 22 countries, including the UK, France, Germany, and Italy, stopped some shipments. PostEurop also said that more carriers might join soon.
Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore have also stopped or limited deliveries in Asia and the Pacific, as per a report by The Guardian.
Online platforms are also being affected. Etsy, for example, has stopped offering US shipping label services for Australia Post, Canada Post, and the UK's Royal Mail. They are telling sellers to find other carriers.
When will mail services start up again?
There is no set date for postal authorities. Belgium's bpost said that the suspensions would stay in place until the US gives all the information about the new import rules. Australia Post has already said that postage costs will probably go up when the new systems are ready, as per a report by The Guardian.
For now, US Customs is letting carriers choose a temporary fixed fee option through the end of February. The fee will be $80, $160, or $200 per item, depending on the tariff brackets.
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Many online stores, like Amazon, Shein, Temu, and Etsy, used the de minimis exemption to let packages with low value come in without paying duty. The US got 1.36 billion of these packages worth $64.6 billion in 2024 alone, as per a report by The Guardian.
The Trump administration said the system was being abused, pointing to problems like unfair competition and the trafficking of fentanyl and opioids. Earlier this year, China and Hong Kong lost the exemption. Now, all countries will have to pay tariffs, as per a report by The Guardian.
International mail to the US is in big trouble because almost 30 countries have stopped sending packages and there is no clear end date in sight. Costs will go up, online shopping will be hurt badly, and both consumers and businesses need to get ready for a new era of higher shipping costs.
FAQs
Why are some countries stopping mail to the US?
Because the rules that let packages under $800 go through without paying tariffs have been changed, postage is now much more expensive.
What countries have stopped sending things to the US?
There are almost 30 countries, such as the UK, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand.
Why are postal services around the world stopping deliveries?
The Trump administration has gotten rid of the long-standing rule that said packages worth less than $800 didn't have to pay tariffs. Starting this week, most packages sent to the US will have to pay full tariffs, which will make mailing costs go up a lot, as per a report by The Guardian.
ALSO READ: Apple’s iPhone 17 & 17 Pro release date schedule heat up — here’s the latest scoop
Postal services now have a hard choice to make: either pay the extra cost themselves or pass it on to their customers. For a lot of people, the quick fix has been to stop deliveries until new systems can be set up.
Does the suspension affect all kinds of mail?
Not completely. Letters and personal gifts worth less than $100 are still not subject to tariffs, but packages worth less than $800 will now be. Some carriers have decided to stop only delivering packages, while others have stopped all shipments to the US, as per a report by The Guardian.
Items that get there before the deadline of August 29 will not be affected, but those that get there after that date may be sent back or charged extra duties.
Which countries have stopped deliveries?
By Tuesday, almost 30 international postal services had stopped delivering to the US, at least for some packages.
In Europe, 22 countries, including the UK, France, Germany, and Italy, stopped some shipments. PostEurop also said that more carriers might join soon.
Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore have also stopped or limited deliveries in Asia and the Pacific, as per a report by The Guardian.
Online platforms are also being affected. Etsy, for example, has stopped offering US shipping label services for Australia Post, Canada Post, and the UK's Royal Mail. They are telling sellers to find other carriers.
When will mail services start up again?
There is no set date for postal authorities. Belgium's bpost said that the suspensions would stay in place until the US gives all the information about the new import rules. Australia Post has already said that postage costs will probably go up when the new systems are ready, as per a report by The Guardian.
For now, US Customs is letting carriers choose a temporary fixed fee option through the end of February. The fee will be $80, $160, or $200 per item, depending on the tariff brackets.
ALSO READ: Southwest Airlines’ new seating policy raises concerns for plus-size travelers
What happened to the $800 Exemption?
Many online stores, like Amazon, Shein, Temu, and Etsy, used the de minimis exemption to let packages with low value come in without paying duty. The US got 1.36 billion of these packages worth $64.6 billion in 2024 alone, as per a report by The Guardian.The Trump administration said the system was being abused, pointing to problems like unfair competition and the trafficking of fentanyl and opioids. Earlier this year, China and Hong Kong lost the exemption. Now, all countries will have to pay tariffs, as per a report by The Guardian.
International mail to the US is in big trouble because almost 30 countries have stopped sending packages and there is no clear end date in sight. Costs will go up, online shopping will be hurt badly, and both consumers and businesses need to get ready for a new era of higher shipping costs.
FAQs
Why are some countries stopping mail to the US?
Because the rules that let packages under $800 go through without paying tariffs have been changed, postage is now much more expensive.
What countries have stopped sending things to the US?
There are almost 30 countries, such as the UK, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand.
