Countries Suspend Package Deliveries to US After End of Tariff Exemptions 

Postal services across Europe and Asia will suspend shipments to the United States as countries scramble to adapt to the end of a decades-old tariff exemption on low-value goods, the Washington Post reported Sunday. Ordered by President Donald Trump, the end of the exemption will take effect Thursday. 

Over the weekend, national mail operators in Germany, Spain, France, Belgium, and the United Kingdom all announced temporary halts to parcel services bound for the US.  

Belgium’s Bpost already suspended shipments Friday, and Spain’s Correos is set to stop accepting packages worth less than $800 on Monday. The UK’s Royal Mail said it expects to suspend deliveries for a day or two before introducing a new system, while France’s La Poste warned it may also have to pause shipments unless a last-minute solution is found, according to Politico.  

Similar suspensions have been announced around Asia by countries including India, South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia. 

The changes follow Trump’s executive order abolishing the so-called “de minimis” exemption, a rule dating back to the 1930s that exempted goods valued at $800 or less from tariffs. The exemption – raised from $200 to $800 under the Obama administration – had benefited small businesses, online sellers, and global retailers, particularly those importing cheap goods from China.  

Trump ended the exemption for China and Hong Kong in May and canceled it for all countries starting Aug. 29, framing the move as part of his fight against illegal drug trafficking. 

Under the new system, parcels will face additional duties of $80 to $200, depending on the tariff rate of their country of origin. However, letters, documents, and personal gifts worth less than $100 remain exempt.  

Postal operators warned that the change will delay shipments and increase costs, and some noted that import duties may need to be prepaid before packages leave for the US. 

The announcement comes just weeks after Washington and Brussels struck a trade deal to ease tensions over earlier tariff disputes.