Overview

• On Aug. 29 the de minimis exemption ended, so low‑value parcels entering the U.S. now incur import duties for the first time in nearly a century.
• A United Nations postal agency reports inbound international mail to the U.S. fell about 81% in the first week, with roughly 90 countries suspending shipments as operators sort out new compliance steps.
• U.S. customers are receiving unexpected and sometimes erroneous tariff bills from DHL, UPS and FedEx, including a $1,400 charge later corrected to about $110, prompting delivery refusals, disputes and return-to-sender requests.
• Merchants are revising practices: some now collect duties at checkout or temporarily halt U.S. shipping, Arsenal says it will cover duties for American fans, and UK exporters cite a new 10% levy on non‑postal shipments plus temporary $80–$200 postal fees that are pushing moves to Delivered Duty Paid.
• Customs and Border Protection says the policy is prepared and necessary to curb small‑package drug smuggling and raise revenue, even as a federal appeals court has questioned parts of the tariff program that remain in effect during the administration’s appeal.