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27m ago

U.S. Ends Duty-Free De Minimis on Low-Value Imports Friday as Postal Services Pause Parcels

Global postal networks face unclear procedures for duty collection following the U.S. decision.

People prepare packages to send at the Main Post Office in Mexico City, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025.
FILE - Parcels slide down a ramp after being scanned at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection overseas mail inspection facility at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport Feb. 23, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
FILE- In this Dec. 14, 2017, file photo, boxes for sorted mail are stacked at the main post office in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, on April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Overview

  • The Universal Postal Union says it has asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio for clarity on new requirements and is coordinating with U.S. authorities to resolve implementation confusion.
  • Postal operators in more than 30 countries, including much of Europe, have limited or halted most U.S.-bound packages valued at $800 or less.
  • Shipments that previously entered without formal customs will now be vetted and charged origin-country tariffs of roughly 10% to 50%, with a six‑month option for carriers to apply a flat $80–$200 duty per package.
  • The policy maintains duty-free status for gifts up to $100 and allows travelers to bring back up to $200 in personal souvenirs without duties.
  • Small businesses and cross-border sellers warn of higher costs, added paperwork and potential delays, while UPS and FedEx say they have systems to help customers; CBP estimates over 90% of imports had used de minimis.