Some international postal services suspend shipment of packages to U.S.

Published: Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 1:33 pm

International Postal Services Suspend U.S. Shipments Amid Tariff Uncertainty

Several major international postal services are temporarily halting shipments to the United States due to confusion surrounding new U.S. import duties. Postal services in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Italy initiated suspensions on Saturday. France and Austria will follow on Monday, with the United Kingdom joining on Tuesday. India is also suspending postal deliveries to the U.S., excluding letters, documents, and gifts valued under $100, starting Monday.

The suspensions stem from a decree signed by President Trump last month, which subjects international goods previously exempt from U.S. tariffs – those valued under $800 – to import duties starting August 29. Letters, books, gifts, and small parcels worth less than $100 will remain exempt. A trade agreement between the U.S. and the European Union established a 15% tariff on most EU products.

European postal services cite a lack of clarity regarding the specific goods covered by the new rules and insufficient time to implement the necessary changes. They are unable to guarantee that packages will arrive in the U.S. before the August 29 deadline. Some services, such as Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany, have already ceased accepting packages containing goods from business customers destined for the U.S. Other services, including Postnord and Poste Italiane, have also announced similar suspensions. Shipping via express services like DHL Express remains an option.

The Indian government cited the lack of defined mechanisms for duty collection and remittance as a key factor in its decision. The U.S. requires transport carriers or "qualified parties" to collect and remit duties, but the processes for designating these parties and implementing collection methods remain unclear.

Several postal services, including La Poste and Royal Mail, have stated that the U.S. did not provide sufficient details or time to prepare for the new customs procedures. PostEurop, an association of European postal operators, warned that if a solution isn't found by August 29, its members may also suspend shipments.

BNN's Perspective: The situation highlights the complexities of international trade and the potential for disruptions when new regulations are implemented without sufficient planning and communication. While the U.S. government's goal of collecting import duties is understandable, the lack of clarity and preparation has created significant challenges for postal services and could impact businesses and consumers. A more collaborative approach between the U.S. and its international partners would have likely mitigated these issues.

Keywords: international postal services, U.S. tariffs, import duties, shipping suspensions, trade, customs, postal deliveries, European Union, Donald Trump, Deutsche Post, DHL, Postnord, Poste Italiane, Royal Mail, La Poste, India, August 29, trade regulations

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