International Postal Services Scramble To Sort Out Tariffs & End Of De Minimis, With Some Pausing US Shipments
UPDATE 8-22-25
US Customs & Border Protection has approved Zonos and SafePackage as qualified 3rd party solutions for collecting & paying duties on international shipments ahead of end of de minimis exemption.
Liz Morton
Zonos also provides Canada Post and Australian Post businesses a free duty and tax calculator and HS classification interface.
And CBP has updated their Frequently Asked Questions for ecommerce shippers:
International postal services are scrambling to catch up with the latest changes to tariffs and the end of the duty-free de minimis exemption for low value packages with some temporarily pausing shipments into the US as a result.
After President Trump signed an executive order moving up the end of the de minimis exemption to August 29, 2025, US Customs and Border Protection has issued new guidance about how incoming international postal shipments will be processed - including putting the burden of collecting duties and taxes for shipments which no longer have de minimis exemption on to the international postal services directly.
Liz Morton
Postal Service Suspensions Of Shipments To US
August 20
Omniva Estonia: "Due to newly imposed customs duties by the United States, Omniva will temporarily suspend the delivery of parcels containing goods to the USA starting from August 20. Omniva will resume parcel shipments to the USA as soon as possible."
Grete Rämmal
August 22
Lithuanian Post: "starting tomorrow, August 22, 2025, all shipments to the United States of America for both business and private customers will be temporarily suspended."
Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany: "After August 22, Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany will temporarily suspend the acceptance and transport of business customer parcels via the postal network to the U.S. Shipping via DHL Express remains possible."
"Packages and parcels that contain only gifts from individuals to individuals with a value of up to $100 and are declared as "gift," as well as documents, can continue to be sent as usual."
BH Post Bosnia and Herzegovina: "We would like to inform you that, starting from August 22, 2025, the reception of all types of international postal items addressed to recipients in the territory of the United States of America at the counters of "JP BH POŠTE" doo Sarajevo will be temporarily suspended."
NZ Post New Zealand: UPDATE 8-28-25 NZ Post has partially lifted pause on shipments to US ahead of de minimis changes, with solution now in place for business customers.
Liz Morton
UPDATE 8-25-25: "From 29 August 2025 (US Eastern Standard Time), all items sent from New Zealand will be subject to a 15% tariff, regardless of value."
"Guidance from US Customs & Border Protection was only recently issued and requires a number of changes for both businesses and NZ Post, including updates to shipment data, duty and tax payments, and how goods are processed for entry into the US. We’ve been advised by our main airline partners that due to these new rules they have made the decision they will not be carrying mail items subject to this tariff...NZ Post has temporarily suspended selected parcel sending services to the US and US territories while we implement the necessary operational changes."
"There are some restrictions when sending to the United States and US territories...while formal processes around the new US tariffs, duties and taxes are being finalised...Our online labelling tools will be disabled for impacted services from 5pm, 22 August. We expect that this suspension will be short term."
Czech Post: "For Czech Post customers, this means that from August 22, 2025 until further notice, the reception of shipments to the USA containing goods, regardless of their value, will be suspended."
Thailand Post: "Thapanee Amarinrat, Acting President of Thailand Post, signed an announcement on August 21 confirming the temporary suspension of all international postal parcel services to the United States."
nationthailand
Pošta Slovenije Slovenia: "Pošta Slovenije informs its customers that from August 22, 2025, it will temporarily suspend the acceptance of goods shipments for addressees in the USA, namely goods letters and packages, regardless of the value of the goods...regardless of the above, the "UPS Express" product will still be available to users, as a different process has already been established for it than for EU national postal operators operating under the rules of the Universal Postal Union."
Liechtensteinische Post Liechtenstein: "Starting Friday, August 22, 2025, no mail shipments to the United States (including Puerto Rico) will be accepted until further notice. Shipments without goods (documents) are currently also affected by the new regulations and cannot be sent to the USA as usual."
"Goods shipments can still be sent to the USA via the UPS courier service offered by Liechtensteinische Post AG, as these are subject to a different processing method. This option is reserved for business customers with a UPS contract."
Roland Seger
Pošte Srpska Bosnia and Herzegovina: "Pošte Srpska informs users of its services that as of August 22, 2025, it will cease receiving all types of postal items to the United States of America (USA), except for express mail items in international traffic (DHL shipments)."
August 23
Latvian Post: "From August 23, 2025, the Latvian Post will be forced to indefinitely stop accepting shipments containing items, or small packages and parcels, for delivery to the United States of America (USA). This is due to the executive order issued by US President Donald Trump to suspend the duty-free “de minimis” regime for all countries. "Latvijas Pasts" will continue to deliver letter correspondence, including documents, to the USA."
PostNord: "PostNord announces the temporary pause on postal shipments containing goods to the United States and Puerto Rico, effective from August 23, following a recent change in the customs and tariffs rules for the U.S., eliminating the De Minimis exemption for inbound goods."
Posten Bring: "On July 30, the Trump administration removed the duty and tax exemption for shipments with a value of less than 800 USD (just over 8,000 Norwegian kroner) with effect from August 29. As a consequence, it will not be possible to send this type of shipment to the United States, or Puerto Rico, which is a US territory, from Saturday, August 23."
bpost: "bpost announces the temporary pause on postal shipments containing goods to the United States, effective from August 23, following a recent change in the customs and tariffs rules for the U.S., eliminating the De Minimis exemption for inbound goods."
PostNL Netherlands: "US Customs is not sufficiently prepared to implement the new legislation. Therefore, starting tomorrow, August 23, it will no longer be possible to ship parcels and packages to the United States for the time being. We are currently working intensively on a new solution."
Poste Italiane Italy: "Poste Italiane will be forced, like other European postal operators, to temporarily suspend acceptance of all shipments containing goods destined for the United States, starting August 23."
Malta Post: "MaltaPost p.l.c. announces the temporary suspension of all parcel and goods shipments to the United States of America and its territories, effective from 10:00 hrs on Saturday, 23 August 2025."
"Customers are also informed that any letter/documents destined for the U.S. should no longer be deposited in the street post boxes. MaltaPost is offering a special document/letter express service to the United States through its MEI product, that is only available for purchase across our extensive Post Office network."
August 25
France La Poste: will suspend parcel shipments to the United States as of August 25, with the exception of gifts between individuals worth less than €100. This decision was taken in response to the new US customs procedures introduced by the Trump administration.
Wladimir Garcin-Berson
Austrian Post: "As of August 26, Austrian Post will no longer be able to accept shipments containing goods for the USA (including Puerto Rico) until further notice. The last day for posting is therefore Monday, August 25. This is due to changes in customs regulations in the USA."
Korea Post: "The Korea Post of the Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 21st that, starting from the 25th, it will stop accepting all items except documents exempt from tariffs for international air parcels to the U.S. and will cease accepting mail on the 26th."
CHOSUNBIZ
Singapore Post: "Please note that for the time being, SingPost will be suspending the acceptance of items with commercial value via our standard Post service for shipments to the U.S. from 25 August 2025 to ensure that shipments can reach the U.S. before 29 August when new regulations apply. The following services to the U.S. are impacted: Speedpost Priority, Speedpost Standard, Speedpost Economy, Registered Service (Air and Surface), Basic Package (Air and Surface) and ePac."
Polish Post Office: "As of Monday, August 25, the Polish Post Office is temporarily limiting the acceptance of shipments containing goods destined for the United States. This decision was necessitated by restrictions imposed by the US government and air carriers, which prevent deliveries."
Correos Spain & Portugal: "The suspension, which affects package shipments with a commercial value equal to or less than $800, will take effect on August 25. The suspension will remain in effect for the time strictly necessary to adopt the necessary operational measures to meet the new obligations of the United States executive order that eliminates the tariff exemption for low-value shipments."
India Post: "the Department of Posts has decided to temporarily suspend booking of all types of postal articles, destined for the USA with effect from 25th August, 2025 except letters/documents and gift items up to USD100 in value. These exempt categories will continue to be accepted and conveyed to the USA, subject to further clarifications from CBP and USPS."
Slovak Post: "Slovak Post informs the public that, as of Monday, August 25, 2025, it is temporarily suspending the acceptance and transit of goods shipments to the United States of America, including gifts sent between individuals...Slovak Post will therefore accept only letter shipments containing documents in printed form from August 25, 2025."
Post of Serbia: "The Post of Serbia is temporarily suspending the receipt of all types of postal items for recipients in the United States of America, starting today, August 25."
Poșta Moldovei Moldova: "Starting with 25.08.2025, the reception of shipments containing cargo (packages, parcels, EMS) destined for the USA is temporarily suspended. Letter mail items containing documents or letters , destined for the USA, are accepted in the postal circuit according to technological procedures."
Cyprus Post: "Cyprus Post announces that due to changes to the duties which impose to inbound items containing goods, the acceptance of mail for all categories (Letter, Parcel, EMS/Datapost, QuickPost) is suspended until further notice. Items which contain only documents and letters are exempted."
August 26
Hellenic Post Greece: "Hellenic Post (ELTA) announces the temporary suspension of shipments containing goods to the United States and its territories, effective from August 26, 2025."
CTT – Correios de Portugal: UPDATE 8-29-25 CTT Portugal has suspended all goods to the US, regardless of value or gift status, but documents can still be mailed.
"Given the temporary embargo on the transport of any type of goods, including Offers/Gifts, to the USA, determined by the airlines with which CTT operates, it becomes operationally unfeasible to provide the postal service for the contents previously indicated as exempt from the restrictions, and it is only possible to guarantee the sending of documents."
"Consequently, all shipments of goods (including Offers/Gifts) are suspended in all Universal Service Mail and Parcel methods and in the International Express product with immediate effect from August 29th ."
"Due to the discontinuation of the de Minimis regime (exemption of customs duties for imported goods) by the United States of America, CTT will temporarily suspend the transportation of postal shipments containing these goods to the USA in all mail products, universal service parcel and International express parcel starting August 26th."
"Shipments destined for the US containing exclusively documents and offers between individuals worth less than USD 100 will not be impacted by this measure."
Magyar Posta Zrt Hungarian Post: "Magyar Posta has decided to suspend the possibility of using services with goods content to the USA as of August 27, 2025. The measure affects items sent within the framework of the following postal services, regardless of value: priority and non-priority international postal packages; international EMS; international letters with priority and non-priority dutiable content. Items containing documents or private letters can still be sent."
Chunghwa Post Taiwan: "effective August 26, 2025, Chunghwa Post will suspend the acceptance of mail items (containing goods) destined for the United States."
"The affected categories are as follows: Suspended Services (not accepted): EMS (containing goods), International Parcel Post, ePacket, International Registered Small Packet, and International Ordinary Small Packet."
"Services Still Accepted: EMS Document Service (please obtain EMS document envelopes from local post offices), Letters, Postcards, Aerogrammes, Printed Matter, and Newspapers."
Bulgarian Post: "Bulgarian Post informs its customers that they are temporarily suspending the acceptance of all types of shipments to the USA, effective August 26, 2025."
Swiss Post: "From 26 August 2025, Swiss Post will temporarily be unable to accept any postal goods consignments to the USA. This is due to the US government’s new customs regulations, which affect all postal companies worldwide. Important alternatives remain in place: document and express consignments to the USA are still possible."
Die Schweizerische Post
Australia Post: UPDATE 9-9-25 Australia Post will resume shipping to US on or before September 25th as new partnership with Zonos enables customs and duty compliance.
Liz Morton
update 8/26 - "26 August 2025: As a result of recently announced changes to import tariffs for postal items sent to the US and Puerto Rico, Australia Post will temporarily partially suspend postal services to the United States and Puerto Rico, effective 26 August 2025 until further notice."
Australia Post is also partnering with Zonos to offer solutions for their business contract customers.
Retail customers – find out more
Business customers – find out more
"18 August 2025: The United States recently announced significant changes to its import tariff rules that will take effect from 29 August 2025 and impact Postal customers sending items from Australia to the US. We are actively monitoring for any developments and will continue to provide timely updates as more information becomes available."
Royal Mail in the UK is advising shippers they are "working closely with the US authorities and international partners to manage the impact of these changes" and will be introducing a PDDP (Postal Delivered Duties Paid) service for account customers to use when exporting to the USA.
What does this mean for UK customers exporting goods to the USA?
If you only send personal correspondence to the USA, you are not affected by these changes and can continue to send these items to the USA, without a customs declaration.If you ship goods to the USA and currently complete a customs declaration, we understand that the following changes will apply on the 29th of August 2025:
- Senders in the UK will have to calculate, collect (or account for) duties at the point of sale. You may want to consider doing this by integrating a ‘landed cost calculator’ at your online checkout to calculate ‘landed cost’ (taxes and duties). Landed cost calculators can also collect those taxes and duties. The duties are then payable to US Customs in advance of items entering the USA.
- Decide how you will account for these duties with your customers (e.g., you can choose to pass the cost of duties on to your customers or absorb it) and ensure your customs data is accurate.
- We understand that the required duties for UK postal shipments will be based on an item’s value and the country-based tariff (country of manufacture rather than country of shipping).
How will Royal Mail support customers with these changes?
Royal Mail is working closely with the US authorities and international partners to manage the impact of these changes which will affect everyone who sends goods to the USA.
- To enable you to continue to export goods to the USA, Royal Mail will be introducing a PDDP (Postal Delivered Duties Paid) service for account customers to use when exporting to the USA.
- This is an extension of our Royal Mail PDDP services, which are currently in use to some EU destinations. This will allow continued ‘postal clearance’ into the USA with the same labelling, tracking and customer notifications. This will replace existing services and support compliance with the new requirements.
- Our shipping platforms will be updated to capture necessary data to comply with the new requirements (much of which you already provide).
UPDATE: 8/26 Royal Mail are now advising there will be a short disruption in availability of shipping to the US to allow time to switch over to the new PDDP services.
We are planning to withdraw our existing USA export services on Tuesday 26th August 2025. We recommend customers do not send items using existing services from this date, to allow enough time for them to reach US customs before the new requirements become effective.
We are planning a short period (1-2 days) between the withdrawal of existing services and new PDDP services being available to allow us to process and ship all items sent using existing services into the USA before 29th August.
We expect the new USA PDDP account services set out below to be available for our customers on Royal Mail shipping solutions from Thursday 28th August 2025.
UPDATE 8-28-25 Royal Mail's new postal delivery duties paid (PDDP) services are now available.
Liz Morton
August 27
Japan Post: "Therefore, starting August 27 (Wed.), in line with other national postal operators, we will temporarily suspend the acceptance of postal items (small packets, parcels, and EMS (goods)) to the United States that contain the following items":
- Individual gifts with a content value exceeding 100 US dollars
- Goods intended for sale for consumption
"In addition, we will continue to accept letters, postcards, printed matter, EMS (documents), and postal items (small packets, parcels, and EMS (goods)) containing gifts between individuals with a value of less than US$100."
Correos de Mexico: UPDATE 8-27-25 now officially suspended.
"Correos de México will temporarily suspend postal and package deliveries to the United States starting August 27, 2025, while new operational processes are defined."
Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores
The Mexican postal service has not yet posted an official announcement, but posts in the eBay community and across social media indicate shippers may be being told shipments to the US have been paused as of August 23.
Unconfirmed/To Be Determined
Canada Post: Canada Post has sent an email to business shippers advising they will be partnering with Zonos to collect duties. The notice says that business shippers will need to have a Zonos Verified Account and information on how to create one through Canada Post will be coming soon.
So far there have been no further details posted on Canada Post's website about how these changes will impact individual non-business shippers.
Marketplaces
Etsy
Etsy has advised sellers that they are suspending shipping label purchases from the platform for Australia Post, Canada Post, Everi and Royal Mail for US-bound packages, effective August 25th.
Given recent changes to tariffs in the US, many postal providers will be suspending service or changing delivery options to the US. In light of this, effective August 25, Etsy will be suspending shipping label purchases on Etsy for Australia Post, Canada Post, Evri and Royal Mail for US-bound packages.
We are in close contact with these carriers and will reactivate label offerings on Etsy when they are able to support orders into the US with DDP options.
Sellers are advised to keep an eye on Etsy's Seller Handbook for additional updates and will need to make their own shipping arrangements with Delivery Duties Paid (DDP) or stop selling to the US until Etsy is able to provide a solution to re-enable label purchases for these postal services.
eBay
UPDATE 8-26-25 eBay has disabled the ability to purchase Australia Post international labels for orders shipping to the US as Australia Post has suspended acceptance of these package.
From 26 August 2025, Australia Post is temporarily suspending most international parcel services to the US due to changes to the US import tariff rules.
We're here to support you, so we've put seller protections in place:
- We'll automatically remove Late Shipment Rate defects, Seller Cancellation defects and related Negative or Neutral Feedback received for sellers outside of the US who are shipping items to US buyers.
- We've disabled Australia Post International Services on the eBay Labels platform for parcels sent from Australia to the US.
UPDATE 8-25-25: eBay International Shipping service will be launching in Canada in October and will initially be invite only. While that's a welcome announcement, it may end up being too little, too late for some sellers.
Liz Morton
eBay has promised to protect sellers from late shipping defects and negative or neutral feedback related to tariffs but the actual payment of duties once the de minimis exemption ends will still depend on the carrier/postal service being used.
Liz Morton
In the UK, shipments which use eBay's Global Shipping Programme will have the duties calculated and charged to the buyer at checkout, but listings using any other international shipping method will not.
For other countries, eBay says: "Duties, import fees, and personal information are typically collected by carriers after checkout. Prices displayed to buyers on eBay may exclude these costs."
You can check country-specific eBay help pages:
UPDATE: eBay Canada has now announced they will be disabling the ability to purchase Canada Post labels, effective August 25th.
Duties and customs clearance: Starting August 29th, all shipments to the US—regardless of value—will be subject to applicable duties and customs clearance. As of this date, Canada Post has advised that its current Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) shipping services to the US (Tracked Packet™ USA, Expedited Parcel™ USA, or Xpresspost™ USA) are not compliant with these changes.
There is a significant risk that non-compliant shipments arriving to the US beyond August 29th will be returned to the sender. Therefore, effective August 25th these Canada Post services will be disabled on eBay Labels.
To ensure a smooth cross-border shipping experience, we strongly recommend sellers take the following actions immediately to avoid in-transit shipments from being returned.
- Use a commercial carrier such as UPS, FedEx, DHL, or Purolator that can handle US customs clearance; and note that discounted UPS and FedEx rates are available through eBay Labels.
- Ensure the item location for your listings is accurate.
- Include accurate Harmonized Tariff Codes as well as Country/Region of Manufacture (country of origin) information on your listings & customs declarations.
It’s important to note that, for any exports to the United States, the Country/Region of Manufacture will be required to properly assess and apply applicable customs duties
Mercari
Mercari is warning users that items shipping from Japan via their partnership with BEENOS will have estimated customs duties added into item prices.
I'll be keeping this post updated with the latest news from various international postal services and online marketplaces. Stay tuned and let us know in the comments below how the end of de minimis is impacting your ecommerce business!
