European postal services pause U.S. deliveries amid tariff confusion
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
European Postal Services Suspend Shipments to U.S. Amid New Tariff Duty Confusion
European postal services have begun halting deliveries now due to uncertainties regarding which goods fall under the new regulations and the tight timeframe to adapt to them. A recent trade agreement between the U.S. and the European Union imposed a 15% tariff on most products shipped from the EU, which now also includes items under the previous exemption threshold. In 2024 alone, approximately 1.36 billion packages worth around $64.6 billion were sent under this regulation, according to data from the United States Customs and Border Protection. The Royal Mail has indicated that shipments worth over $100 will incur a 10% duty.
As the exemption comes to an end this Friday, numerous postal services in Europe have reacted swiftly. Starting Saturday, services from countries including Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Italy will cease shipping many types of merchandise to the U.S. This suspension will extend to France and Austria by Monday and the U.K.’s Royal Mail will pause shipments on Tuesday, allowing time for existing packages to arrive before tariffs take effect. The Royal Mail has indicated that shipments worth over $100 will incur a 10% duty.
DHL, Europe’s largest shipping provider, has expressed its concerns, stating that significant questions surrounding customs duties remain unanswered. The company announced it will no longer accept or transport parcels from business customers destined for the U.S. as of Saturday. A recent trade agreement between the U.S. and the European Union imposed a 15% tariff on most products shipped from the EU, which now also includes items under the previous exemption threshold.
European postal services have begun halting deliveries now due to uncertainties regarding which goods fall under the new regulations and the tight timeframe to adapt to them. Notably, Poste Italiane declared it would stop accepting all shipments of goods for the U.S., effective August 23. However, postal services that do not contain merchandise will still be accepted.
Björn Bergman, from PostNord, referred to the suspension as unfortunate but necessary to comply with the new rules. In the Netherlands, PostNL’s spokesperson pointed out the challenge posed by the new duties, emphasizing the lack of a current system for U.S. authorities to collect them. He advised individuals who need to send items to the U.S. to do so immediately.
Austria’s primary postal service provider, Austrian Post, signaled that they would stop accepting commercial shipments to the U.S., including Puerto Rico, by Tuesday. France’s national postal service, La Poste, criticized the U.S. for not providing sufficient details or adequate preparation time for the transition to new customs procedures. The association representing 51 European public postal operators, PostEurop, warned that if a resolution is not reached by August 29, more postal services may follow the lead of those currently suspending shipments.
European, Indian postal services to halt US-bound packages, over Trump tariff confusion
Postal services in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Italy said they will stop shipping most merchandise to the US effective immediately. France and Austria will follow on Monday, and the United Kingdom on Tuesday. Many European postal services say they are pausing deliveries now because they cannot guarantee the goods will enter the US before August 29.
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Postal services in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Italy said they will stop shipping most merchandise to the US effective immediately. France and Austria will follow on Monday, and the United Kingdom on Tuesday.
Under a decree signed by President Donald Trump last month, international goods that were previously exempt from US tariffs – those valued under US$800 – will be subject to import duties from August 29. Letters, books, gifts and small parcels worth less than US$100 will continue to be exempt.
A trade framework agreed by the US and the European Union last month set a 15 per cent tariff on the vast majority of products shipped from the EU.
Many European postal services say they are pausing deliveries now because they cannot guarantee the goods will enter the US before August 29. They cite ambiguity about what kind of goods are covered by the new rules, and the lack of time to process their implications.
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Starting on Saturday, Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany said they would “no longer be able to accept and transport parcels and postal items containing goods from business customers destined for the US”.
European postal services pause U.S. deliveries amid tariff confusion
The U.S. duty-free exemption for goods originating from China ended in May as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to curb American shoppers from ordering low-value Chinese goods. The exemption is being extended to shipments from around the world. Packages under $800 will now also be subject to the tariff. Many European postal services say they are pausing deliveries now because they cannot guarantee the goods will enter the U.s. before Aug. 29. They cite ambiguity about what kind of goods are covered by the new rules, and the lack of time to process their implications. The U.K.’s Royal Mail said it would halt shipments to the United States on Tuesday to allow time for those packages to arrive before duties kick in. A trade framework agreed on by the U.,S. and the European Union last month set a 15% tariff on the vast majority of products shipped from the EU. It is unclear how and by whom customs duties will be collected in the future.
The exemption, known as the allows packages worth less than $800 to come into the U.S. duty free. A total of 1.36 billion packages were sent in 2024 under this exemption, for goods worth $64.6 billion, according to data from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agency.
It is set to expire on Friday. On Saturday, postal services around Europe announced that they are suspending the shipment of many packages to the United States amid confusion over new import duties.
Postal services in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Italy said they will stop shipping most merchandise to the U.S. effective immediately. France and Austria will follow on Monday.
The U.K.’s Royal Mail said it would halt shipments to the U.S. on Tuesday to allow time for those packages to arrive before duties kick in. Items originating in the United Kingdom worth over $100 — including gifts to friends and family — will incur a 10% duty, it said.
“Key questions remain unresolved, particularly regarding how and by whom customs duties will be collected in the future, what additional data will be required, and how the data transmission to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be carried out,” DHL, the largest shipping provider in Europe, said in a statement.
The company said starting Saturday it “will no longer be able to accept and transport parcels and postal items containing goods from business customers destined for the US.”
A trade framework agreed on by the U.S. and the European Union last month set a 15% tariff on the vast majority of products shipped from the EU. Packages under $800 will now also be subject to the tariff.
The U.S. duty-free exemption for goods originating from China ended in May as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to curb American shoppers from ordering low-value Chinese goods. The exemption is being extended to shipments from around the world.
Many European postal services say they are pausing deliveries now because they cannot guarantee the goods will enter the U.S. before Aug. 29. They cite ambiguity about what kind of goods are covered by the new rules, and the lack of time to process their implications.
Postnord, the Nordic logistics company, and Italy’s postal service announced similar suspensions effective Saturday.
“In the absence of different instructions from US authorities … Poste Italiane will be forced, like other European postal operators, to temporarily suspend acceptance of all shipments containing goods destined for the United States, starting August 23. Mail shipments not containing merchandise will continue to be accepted,” Poste Italiane said Friday.
Shipping by services such as DHL Express remains possible, it added.
Björn Bergman, head of PostNord’s Group Brand and Communication, said the pause was “unfortunate but necessary to ensure full compliance of the newly implemented rules.”
In the Netherlands, PostNL spokesperson Wout Witteveen said the Trump administration is pressing ahead with the new duties despite U.S. authorities lacking a system to collect them. He said that PostNL is working closely with its U.S. counterparts to find a solution.
“If you have something to send to America, you should do it today,” Witteveen told The Associated Press.
Austrian Post, Austria’s leading logistics and postal service provider, stated that the last acceptance of commercial shipments to the U.S., including Puerto Rico, will take place Tuesday.
France’s national postal service, La Poste, said the U.S. did not provide full details or allow enough time for the French postal service to prepare for new customs procedures.
Despite discussions with U.S. customs services, no time was provided to postal operators to re-organize and assure the necessary computer updates to conform to the new rules, it said in a statement.
PostEurop, an association of 51 European public postal operators, said that if no solution can be found by Aug. 29 all its members will likely follow suit.
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Anderson reported from New York. Associated Press writers Angela Charlton in Paris; Costas Kantouris in Thessaloniki, Greece; Stephanie Lichtenstein in Vienna; Brian Melley in London and Molly Quell in Amsterdam contributed to this report.
European Postal Services Halt Shipments to U.S. Amid Tariff Confusion
European postal services halt shipments to the U.S. as they seek clarity on the new regulations. The de minimis exemption allowed for packages valued at less than $800 to enter the United States duty-free. The exemption for goods from China was eliminated in May, with the new duties now extending to international shipments. Concerns are mounting over key unresolved questions surrounding the logistics of the new customs duties, including how and by whom these duties will be collected, and how these data will be transmitted to U.N. customs authorities. The association of 51 European public postal operators, known as PostEurop, warned that if a resolution isn’t reached by August 29, all member services would likely enact similar shipping suspensions.
Following the expiration of this exemption, effective Friday, postal services across Europe announced immediate suspensions of many shipments to the U.S. Countries such as Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Italy confirmed they would stop shipping most merchandise, with France and Austria planning to follow suit shortly thereafter. The Royal Mail in the U.K. stated it would cease shipments on Tuesday to allow time for packages to arrive before new duties are enforced.
Packages sent from the U.K. that exceed $100 will now incur a 10% duty, affecting items sent as gifts and personal parcels alike. Concerns are mounting over key unresolved questions surrounding the logistics of the new customs duties, including how and by whom these duties will be collected, what additional data might be required, and how these data will be transmitted to U.S. customs authorities.
DHL, the largest shipping company in Europe, announced it would stop accepting and transporting parcels destined for the U.S. starting Saturday due to these uncertainties. A recent trade framework negotiated between the U.S. and the European Union introduced a 15% tariff on the majority of EU products shipped to the U.S., further complicating the situation for shippers. Notably, the exemption for goods from China was eliminated in May, a move intended to reduce low-value imports from Chinese vendors, with the new duties now extending to international shipments.
Many European postal services are implementing these pauses, expressing concern that they cannot ensure goods will arrive in the U.S. before the August 29 deadline due to confusion surrounding what items fall under the new rules and insufficient time to process the implications of these changes. For instance, PostNord, a Nordic logistics firm, emphasized the necessity of this pause to comply with the new regulations.
In the Netherlands, a representative from PostNL stated that the U.S. is proceeding with new duties despite lacking a system to effectively collect them. This uncertainty has prompted advice to send items immediately. Other postal services, including Austria’s leading provider, Austrian Post, stated they will be halting acceptance of commercial shipments to the U.S., including Puerto Rico, by Tuesday. Meanwhile, France’s national postal service, La Poste, expressed frustration over the U.S. not providing adequate details or time for necessary operational adjustments.
The association of 51 European public postal operators, known as PostEurop, warned that if a resolution isn’t reached by August 29, all member services would likely enact similar shipping suspensions. As the deadline approaches, the situation remains fluid, with postal operators grappling to navigate these new challenges effectively.
European Postal Services Suspend Shipments to U.S. Amid Duty Uncertainty
European postal services are halting deliveries because they cannot ensure that goods will clear U.S. customs before the new regulations take effect. This decision has been made by postal operators in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Italy, with France and Austria set to follow suit on Monday, and the United Kingdom on Tuesday. India will halt postal deliveries to the U.s. starting Monday, with exceptions for letters, documents, and gift items valued at up to $100. This shift comes in the wake of a decree signed by President Donald Trump, effective August 29, which mandates that international goods valued under $800 will now incur import duties.
This shift comes in the wake of a decree signed by President Donald Trump, effective August 29, which mandates that international goods previously exempt from U.S. tariffs, specifically those valued under $800, will now incur import duties. Under this new framework, items like letters, books, gifts, and small parcels under $100 will remain exempt from these tariffs.
European postal services are halting deliveries because they cannot ensure that goods will clear U.S. customs before the new regulations take effect. They cite confusion over which items are affected by the new rules and the limited time available to adapt to these changes. For instance, Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany stated that they would no longer accept parcels destined for the U.S. containing goods from business customers. Similarly, PostNord and Poste Italiane made announcements about their suspension of shipments, emphasizing that mail not containing merchandise would still be accepted.
PostNord’s Björn Bergman noted that while the decision was unfortunate, it was necessary to comply with the new directives. In the Netherlands, PostNL’s spokesperson, Wout Witteveen, pointed out the challenges posed by the Trump administration’s new duties, mentioning that U.S. authorities lack a proper system for collecting these tariffs. He advised anyone needing to send items to the U.S. to do so immediately.
India’s communications ministry highlighted the complexities involved with the executive order, stating that there remain several unanswered questions regarding the designation of approved parties for collecting and remitting tariffs. This has prompted air carriers in India to express their inability to transport postal consignments destined for the U.S. after August 25.
Austrian Post noted that the last acceptance for commercial shipments to the U.S. would occur on Tuesday. France’s La Poste expressed frustration over not receiving adequate information to adapt to new customs requirements despite attempts to engage with U.S. authorities. The UK’s Royal Mail indicated that shipments would cease on Tuesday to allow time for packages to arrive before the new duties take effect.
PostEurop, representing 51 European public postal operators, warned that if no resolution is reached by August 29, all member services could be compelled to follow the suspension of deliveries to the U.S. As companies brace for the implications of these new tariffs, the evolving situation creates uncertainty for both businesses and consumers who rely on international shipping.