Several countries, including India, France, and the United Kingdom, are temporarily suspending postal deliveries to the United States due to new customs regulations that have created confusion regarding duties. These changes are linked to a decree signed last month that will end a long-standing tariff exemption for packages valued under $800, effective August 29.

The Root of the Issue: The End of the 'De Minimis' Exemption

For a long time, the United States had a "de minimis" exemption, which allowed most imported goods valued at $800 or less to enter the country without tariffs. However, this exemption is set to expire, meaning that these goods will now be subject to import duties. Letters, books, documents, and small gifts valued at less than $100 will remain exempt.

President Trump's administration framed this decision as a measure against illegal drugs, but postal operators worldwide have expressed concerns about the lack of clarity surrounding the new rules. Specifically, there is uncertainty about how these duties will be collected, who will be responsible for collecting them, and what new data systems are needed to comply with U.S. Customs and Border Protection regulations.

Which Countries are Affected?

Many countries' postal services are pausing some or all deliveries to the U.S. until they can understand and adapt to the new regulations. Besides India, France, and the UK, the list includes Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Austria, Belgium, and Spain.

• India: The Indian government has confirmed it will halt most parcel shipments to the U.S. starting Monday, August 25, excluding letters and small gifts. The communications ministry stated that critical processes related to the designation of "qualified parties" and duty collection mechanisms remain undefined.
• France: La Poste, the French postal service, stated they were not given enough time to reorganize their computer systems to accommodate the changes. They have indicated they may be forced to temporarily suspend some shipments unless a solution is reached before the implementation date.
• United Kingdom: The Royal Mail plans to halt shipments to the U.S. to ensure deliveries arrive before the duties take effect. The Royal Mail has also stated that items originating in the UK worth over $100 will incur a 10% duty.
• Germany: Deutsche Post and DHL Germany are temporarily suspending business customer parcels to the U.S., though DHL Express shipments are not affected.
• Other European Countries: PostNord (Nordic logistics company), Poste Italiane (Italy), Belgium's Postal Service, and Correos (Spain) have also announced suspensions of services.

Impact on Trade and Global Shipping

These suspensions could lead to delays in receiving packages and potential tariffs of $80 or more for consumers. PostEurop, the trade association representing European postal operators, has stated that its members may be constrained to temporarily restrict or suspend the shipping of goods via postal networks to the USA. The lack of clarity and preparation time has made it difficult for postal services to adapt to the new requirements, prompting them to suspend services to avoid problems at customs.

USPS Changes and Potential Delays

It is worth noting that the United States Postal Service (USPS) has been undergoing its own changes as part of a 10-year overhaul plan called "Delivering for America". These changes, implemented since April 1, 2025, include updated delivery timelines for various mail types. While some customers may experience faster mail service, others, particularly in rural areas, may face slower delivery. The USPS aims to save $36 billion over 10 years through these changes. However, some have noted that mail delivery has hit a three-year low as USPS institutes network reforms. These reforms and the international postal suspensions could compound potential delays for consumers.