Several European postal services have suspended their U.S.-bound deliveries due to the expiring „de minimis“ exemption next week.
Postal services across Europe are suspending shipments to the United States as a duty-free exemption for low-value packages is set to expire next week.
A spokesperson for the USPS declined to add further comment when contacted by Newsweek on Saturday.Why It Matters
President Donald Trump’s trade policy, which has frequently shifted, includes an end to the „de minimis“ exemption which allows packages at or under $800 to come to the U.S. without paying additional taxes. With the exemption expiring next Friday, some postal services are suspending shipments until they gain clarity on the new import duties.
In a July 30 executive order, Trump stated he would remove the exemption for all countries effective August 29, expanding a policy that had already applied to China and Hong Kong. In the order, the president notes that the move is rooted in his effort to reduce fentanyl trade and enforce national security measures.
The suspension is expected to impact millions of packages, with the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the USPS estimating that in 2021 there were over 3 billion inbound packages.What To Know
Postal services in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Italy said Saturday they have stopped shipping merchandise to the U.S., while those in France, Austria and the United Kingdom said they will suspend shipments by early next week, according to the Associated Press.
Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany, the main postal providers in Germany, said in a press statement, „After August 22, Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany will no longer be able to accept and transport parcels and postal items containing goods from business customers destined for the U.
