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Postal Operators Worldwide Halt Most U.S.-Bound Parcels as De Minimis Ends This Week

Operators say procedural gaps over duty prepayment plus data submission make parcel handling impossible.

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Overview

  • Australia Post imposed an immediate, open-ended suspension on most parcels to the United States and Puerto Rico from August 26, with letters and personal gifts under about US$100 still accepted.
  • European and Asian postal services including La Poste, Deutsche Post/DHL, PostNL, Royal Mail, Japan Post, Swiss Post and India Post have paused the bulk of U.S.-bound packages ahead of the August 29 rule change.
  • Carriers cite unresolved questions on who pays tariffs, how duties will be collected, and what data must be transmitted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, with several saying a nationwide collection system is not yet in place.
  • Under reported guidance, parcels will face either country-of-origin ad valorem duties or a temporary specific charge of roughly US$80–US$200 per item depending on origin until late February.
  • Some operators are pursuing workarounds such as partnering with CBP-authorized providers like Zonos or shifting traffic to private couriers, while analysts warn small exporters and discount e-commerce sellers face higher costs and disruption.