US import tax changes disrupt global postal deliveries

Postal services internationally are suspending deliveries to the United States because they are unsure about US import tax changes that take effect late August. The suspension follows President Donald Trump signing the executive order last month as he ended the decades-old global exemption of low-value packages.

The new rules, effective from 29 August, mean that all parcels except gifts that are valued at less than $100 are treated in the same way as other imports from their country of origin. It is a drastic departure from the previous system, when packets of a value of up to $800 could be brought into the US duty-free.

Royal Mail and DHL delay delivery

Major carriers such as Royal Mail and DHL Germany have suspended delivery to the US as they adjust to the new rules.

Royal Mail pledged on Wednesday that it was withdrawing its current US export services but indicated that it hoped to install an alternative system in two days to resume shipments.

"Royal Mail is collaborating closely with US authorities and international partners to manage the implications of these changes, which will impact all who export goods to the USA," the company added in a statement.

DHL Parcel Germany said it is suspending parcel delivery to commercial customers over the weekend from Saturday, citing that "key questions remain unresolved" about the payment of duties and to whom.

DHL emphasized that its Express premium DHL service is still operating, but said the intention was to reinstate normal parcel deliveries "as soon as possible."

PostNord also postpones deliveries

PostNord, the Nordic postal company, said it too would suspend US deliveries, blaming the tardy release of implementing rules by US regulators.

"The decision is unfortunate but needed in order to fully comply with the new rules that have been brought in," PostNord group brand and communications director Björn Bergman said.

Bergman said US authorities released information on 15 August at the latest regarding the new requirements with foreign carriers having little time to react.

Why the US changed the rules

Elimination of the so-called "de minimis" level is one of the provisions of what Trump has referred to as his "big beautiful bill" for trade reform. While the bill originally set the phase-out for 2027, an executive order advanced it by two years.

The White House stated that it was the move to counter "ever more dishonest shipping practices, prohibited material, and evasion of duty." Officials aver that certain shippers have taken advantage of the exemption to import illicit drugs and counterfeit goods into the nation.

Figures from the Trump administration indicate a de minimis shipment spike to 309 million by June 2025 from 115 million in the 2023/24 financial year.

Impact on e-commerce

US import tax changes will also have a significant effect on global e-commerce sites such as Shein and Temu, which had been leveraging the $800 loophole to ship cheap items directly to US consumers without any additional charges.

Temu had previously suspended shipping products from China directly to US consumers earlier in the year following a clear instruction cancelling the special exclusion for Chinese products on 2 May.

For consumers, the new policy means more expense and possible delay. For businesses, especially small importers, suspension of postal services has brought uncertainty and unpredictability. Most are waiting to see how quickly postal workers can develop infrastructures to determine and charge duties at the time of importation.

What remains duty-free

There are exceptions to the broad reforms. Personal items that are imported by American visitors from overseas, valued less than $200, are spared. Likewise, gifts worth under $100 can still be sent duty-free.

Outlook

For the time being, the international postal network is in the balance. With US import tax changes already resulting in service disruptions, the next two weeks will be critical for carriers to adjust. Royal Mail, DHL, and PostNord have all indicated that they plan to resume sending goods shortly, but market analysts caution that technical and legal problems will lead to further disruptions.

Consumers relying on cheap foreign packages can expect delays, higher expense, and fewer shipping options in the near future. Businesses sending goods to the US will need to factor in new tariffs in the near future, reshaping international trends of cheap goods.