International Postal Services Suspend Shipments to U.S. Amid Trade Changes

International Shipments to the U.S. Face Disruption as Trade Policies Shift Several international postal services are temporarily suspending shipments to the United States due to impending changes in trade regulations. This disruption follows the announcement that the de minimis rule, which previously allowed for duty-free entry of small packages valued at $800 or less, will soon be revoked as part of the Trump administration's trade policy alterations. Starting Friday, the elimination of the de minimis exemption will render many low-value imports subject to new duties. This follows a similar move made earlier in May that affected packages from China and Hong Kong. These changes disproportionately impact e-commerce players, particularly those that rely on affordable goods, such as Shein and Temu. In response, postal services in Europe and Asia are beginning to halt shipments. Singapore's SingPost and India’s Department of Posts have indicated that they will suspend certain package deliveries, starting as early as Monday. Furthermore, DHL has announced that it will cease accepting shipments to the U.S. following August 25, aligning with other European postal services such as Austrian Post, which will follow suit on August 26. The Austrian Post has communicated concerns regarding the forthcoming customs procedures, stating, “There is currently insufficient information available on the customs clearance procedures that will be required in the future. This tightening of regulations poses major challenges for all postal companies worldwide when shipping goods to the USA,” according to their recent statement. The upcoming policy changes are likely to affect a range of discount retailers and online platforms, including Amazon Haul, TikTok Shop, and other marketplaces like Etsy and Shopify that connect consumers to international sellers. US Customs and Border Protection has reported that over 1.36 billion de minimis shipments were processed in the last fiscal year, averaging over 4 million shipments daily. As stated in the latest executive order, new tariffs may impose charges varying from $80 to $200 per item, depending on the country’s tariff rates. Additionally, recent changes have seen new tariff rates of up to 50% implemented against countries like Brazil. Abbott Atelier Jewelry, based in Vancouver, Canada, has informed customers via Instagram of a temporary pause on shipments, stating that August 25 will be the “cut-off date to bring orders across the border.” Some businesses are already preparing to pass the increased costs on to customers. For example, Korean cosmetics retailer Olive Young announced that a 15% duty will apply to all orders from August 27, regardless of the total purchase amount, with all charges calculated and displayed at checkout. Similarly, Wool Warehouse from the UK is anticipating an increase of up to 50% in costs for shipping to the U.S., prompting the company to suspend its shipments as of August 21, stating, “Clearly this is not something we want to do. The US is a significant part of our business.” Britain’s Royal Mail plans to pause U.S. shipments starting Tuesday for approximately two days to adjust to the new regulations. Etsy has advised sellers to include duties and fees when purchasing shipping labels to facilitate a tariff-inclusive price system for buyers. Despite these adaptations, some sellers, such as UK-based jewelry maker Shed Maid, have stated intentions to stop shipping to U.S. customers altogether, as this market constitutes 50% of their orders. The shop owner expressed concerns about the future viability of selling to American customers amid the changing landscape.