The US government has officially ended the ‘de minimis’ exemption, which earlier allowed goods valued under $800 to be shipped duty-free without paying tariffs. The move, aimed at strengthening customs enforcement, now requires all imports—regardless of value—to go through US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and pay applicable duties.
30 Countries Halt Shipments to the US
In response, more than 30 countries have suspended their outbound postal services to the US, citing the absence of systems to process and remit tariffs. Countries halting shipments include Australia, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, and Mexico, among others.
The Universal Postal Union (UPU), which coordinates cooperation between postal services of 192 member nations, warned that the new requirement would “entail considerable operational changes.” At least 25 UPU members have already suspended services, while others are considering similar moves.
Courier Firms Also Impacted
Private courier giants are also adjusting. DHL Group confirmed temporary restrictions on US-bound shipments due to uncertainties about customs duties and data compliance. Similarly, PostNord (Sweden and Denmark’s state-owned service) and France’s La Poste suspended parcel deliveries to the US, citing lack of time to adapt to new rules. India Post also halted all categories of mail to the US worth up to $100.
Impact on Businesses and Customers
The suspension is expected to cause shipping delays and higher costs1, with small businesses likely to be the hardest hit. Larger corporations may absorb the shock, but smaller exporters and e-commerce sellers relying on postal services will face disruptions. US-based platforms like Etsy and eBay have already issued advisories about potential delays for international buyers.
Cornell Professor Li Chen told AFP that parcel delivery delays are inevitable since every package must now clear customs, adding administrative and cost burdens.
Why the Rule Changed
The Trump administration previously pushed for tighter rules on the de minimis exemption, arguing it was being exploited by traffickers to ship fentanyl into the US. Ending the exemption is seen as part of a broader strategy to regulate imports and strengthen border security.
