Many European postal services are halting shipments to the United States because of new rules on import duties, AP News confirms.
For years, packages worth under $800 could enter the U.S. without extra taxes through what’s called the “de minimis” exemption. In 2024 alone, more than a billion packages came in under this rule, valued at over $64 billion. That exemption ends this week, and confusion over the new process has led major carriers to pause deliveries.
Postal services in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Italy already stopped sending most goods to the U.S., France and Austria plan to follow, and the U.K.’s Royal Mail will do the same soon after. Many carriers say they cannot guarantee packages will arrive before the new duties take effect on August 29th.
Under the new trade framework between the U.S. and European Union, a 15% tariff will apply to most goods, even on packages previously covered by the duty-free rule. DHL, Europe’s largest shipping company, confirmed it will no longer accept parcels from businesses headed to the U.S., citing unclear instructions from U.S. authorities.
Postal providers also stress they have not been given enough time to update their systems. Some say they do not know how the duties will be collected or what data must be provided to U.S. Customs.
As of now, services like DHL Express remain an option, but many traditional postal networks warn that they cannot resume shipments until the rules are clarified.
