Why Some Countries Are Suspending Postal Deliveries to the U.S.—Full Story Explained
In recent weeks, news has emerged that has impacted both global trade and ordinary customers. Postal deliveries to the U.S. are being suspended by several European countries, including France, Germany, the U.K., Denmark and Italy. This decision is directly linked to President Donald Trump’s order ending a long-standing tariff exemption. As a result, packages that previously arrived duty-free in the U.S. will now be subject to tariffs.
This is an issue that is affecting not just businesses but also families who used to send gifts and packages to their loved ones across borders. Let’s understand the whole issue in detail.
Postal Deliveries to the U.S. Face Suspension Due to New Tariff Rules
Until now, the U.S. allowed a “de minimis” exemption under which packages worth less than $800 could be imported duty-free. As per 2024 data, about 1.36 billion packages went duty-free to the U.S., with a total value of $64.6 billion. But now this exemption is ending and a new tariff policy has been introduced.
Immediately after this, postal services of European countries started suspending shipments, as they had not yet received clear guidelines from the U.S. authorities. Postal deliveries to the U.S. Now uncertainty and delays have become a concern.
European Postal Services Halt Shipments Over Confusion
Countries like Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Italy have announced they will no longer ship merchandise to the U.S. France and Austria will join in Monday, and the U.K.’s Royal Mail will halt Tuesday. The suspension is mainly because postal operators have not yet received clear instructions on how duties will be collected, how data transmission will be managed and the exact process.
DHL, Europe’s largest shipping provider, has also confirmed it will not be able to accept business parcels for the U.S.
What This Means for Postal Deliveries to the U.S.
Under the new rules, items over $100 sent from the U.K.—even if they are family gifts—will be subject to a 10% duty. In addition, under the U.S.–EU trade framework, there is now a 15% tariff on most European products.
This change is not just for European goods. This exemption for China was already ended in May as part of the Trump administration’s strategy to reduce low-value Chinese imports. Now its scope has been expanded to shipments around the world.
Postal Deliveries to the U.S. Paused for Compliance
Italy’s postal service, Poste Italiane, has clarified that from August 23, it will not accept temporary shipments that contain goods. Only simple letters or mail that do not contain merchandise will be accepted. Operators such as PostNord and PostNL are taking the same steps.
Netherlands PostNL spokesperson Wout Witteveen said the U.S. has enforced the duties, but there is not yet a system in place to properly collect those duties. He also advised customers that if you need to send something in the U.S., send it immediately before the deadline.
Postal Deliveries to the U.S. and the Impact on Families & Businesses
The impact of this decision is not just limited to e-commerce and businesses. Thousands of families across Europe who used to send gifts to their relatives and friends in the U.S. are now directly affected. Imagine if a small gift worth more than $100 attracts a 10% duty; people will naturally become hesitant to send parcels.
French postal service La Poste clearly said in its statement that the U.S. authorities did not give them enough time to prepare. There was no time to update computer systems and implement the new customs process. For this reason, postal deliveries to the U.S. have now been temporarily halted.
What’s Next for Postal Deliveries to the U.S.?
PostEurop, an association of 51 European postal operators, has said that if a solution is not found by August 29, all members will be forced to suspend shipments. This will be a step that will have a major impact on global e-commerce and cross-border communication.
At the moment there is a lot of uncertainty and clarity from U.S. customs authorities is still pending. But one thing is clear: postal deliveries to the U.S. will no longer be easily available, at least until the proper framework and duty collection system are finalized.
Conclusion
This whole scenario shows us how a single trade policy change can disrupt global communication and trade. The suspension of postal deliveries to the U.S. is a reminder that the global economy is interconnected and every decision has a ripple effect.
At present, discussions are going on between European postal operators and U.S. customs. But until then, both customers and businesses will have to face delays and extra costs.
Disclaimer:
This article is written for informational purposes only. Its purpose is to make readers aware of the impact of the suspension of postal deliveries to the U.S. and the new tariff rules.
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