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UPS Confirms It Is Disposing of Some Stuck Imports as New Tariff Rules Snarl Deliveries

Ending the de minimis threshold thrust low-value parcels into complex tariff regimes with new documentation demands many shippers have not met.

Overview

  • UPS says it makes multiple attempts to obtain missing data, then either returns parcels at the shipper’s expense or disposes of them in compliance with U.S. customs rules.
  • The company reports more than 90% of international packages clear on day one, yet the remainder equates to thousands of shipments stalled each week at major hubs such as Louisville.
  • News outlets detail thousands of U.S.-bound packages piled up, with customers receiving contradictory tracking updates, including notices that items were “disposed of.”
  • Small businesses cite severe losses, including a Portland importer missing five Japan matcha shipments valued at about $127,000 after they reached UPS’s Louisville facility.
  • Reported disposals occur under CBP oversight, and the disruption is prompting some sellers to rethink U.S. orders or add steep fees to cover uncertain duties.