The Universal Postal Union (UPU) announced that 88 national postal operators have suspended some or all mail services to the United States following a significant regulatory change that ended the de minimis duty-free exemption on imported goods under $800. The policy, which took effect on August 29, has disrupted international postal traffic to the U.S., with volumes dropping by more than 80 percent compared to the previous week.
The UPU, a United Nations agency based in Bern, Switzerland, confirmed the suspension of postal flows is linked to new customs clearance requirements imposed by the U.S. government. Under the updated rules, all inbound packages, regardless of their value, must now have duties assessed and paid before entering the country. This has created an immediate operational burden for international postal services, many of which lack the infrastructure to calculate and collect U.S. duties at the point of origin. To mitigate the disruption, the UPU has fast-tracked the deployment of a delivered duty paid (DDP) solution.
On September 5, the agency launched a landed-cost calculator accessible via an application programming interface (API), allowing postal operators to calculate and collect the necessary import duties at the time of mailing. The system is designed to integrate with existing postal retail and counter solutions. UPU Director General Masahiko Metoki said the organization is supporting its member states with implementation, including procedural changes and staff training.
US import rule triggers 81 percent postal volume drop
The impact of the regulatory change has been immediate and widespread. Postal data shared through the UPU’s global electronic network shows that mail volumes to the United States dropped 81 percent on August 29, the day the new rules came into force, compared to August 22. The sudden collapse in volume underscores the scale of the disruption across the international mail system. Postal operators from multiple regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, have either suspended shipments to the U.S. or restricted services while they work to integrate the new customs requirements.
European postal association PostEurop previously warned that without clear operational guidance, many of its members would be forced to halt U.S.-bound mail before the regulatory deadline. Several major postal carriers have confirmed service suspensions or delays, citing the lack of technical readiness to comply with the updated U.S. customs process. Operators have raised concerns over the complexity of the new requirements and the absence of a transition period to adapt their systems. The end of the de minimis exemption affects a wide range of international shipments, including e-commerce parcels and small business exports.
US-bound parcel services collapse after policy shift
The exemption had previously allowed goods valued under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free and without formal customs procedures, simplifying cross-border trade for consumers and retailers. With the exemption eliminated, all items must now be declared and taxed in accordance with U.S. customs regulations. According to the UPU, the DDP solution is aimed at restoring continuity in international mail services to the United States while ensuring compliance with the new import rules.
The UPU emphasized that maintaining the seamless flow of postal items across borders is a core part of its mandate, and it is working closely with affected postal administrations to implement a standardized solution. As of early September, the UPU continues to monitor the evolving situation and provide technical and operational support to its member states. Postal operators are expected to gradually resume services to the U.S. once the new systems are in place and functioning effectively. – By Content Syndication Services.