International Postal Services Adjust to New U.S. Tariff Rules
Several international postal services are experiencing disruptions and adjusting operations due to new U.S. regulations impacting shipments previously considered de minimis – those below a certain value and exempt from tariffs and formal customs procedures. The changes stem from a decision to suspend the de minimis exemption for commercial shipments globally, a move the White House argues will bolster national security and economic fairness.
The core of the issue lies in unresolved logistical questions. DHL Group has suspended business shipments to the U.S. via Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany, citing uncertainty regarding the collection of customs duties, required data, and data transmission protocols to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. while DHL Express continues to operate, the company has not provided a timeline for resuming standard postal shipments, stating its goal is a “speedy” return to service.
France’s La Poste and Spain’s Correos have also temporarily halted goods shipments to the U.S. La Poste explained to France24 that European postal services received a “extremely limited timeframe” to prepare for the new rules, requiring “further clarification.” Correos cited the short implementation timeframe as having a “important impact” on international postal logistics.
In contrast, Royal Mail anticipates only a brief disruption of 1-2 days. The company is actively establishing new services designed to calculate and invoice companies for the newly applicable tariffs.
The White House has been critical of the de minimis policy, labeling it a ”catastrophic loophole” and a “big scam” in a fact sheet published last month. The administration argues the exemption reduces tariff revenue and facilitates the import of illicit drugs due to expedited processing and reduced oversight.
The move to restrict de minimis shipments enjoys bipartisan support. The Biden administration previously voiced concerns about the influx of drugs and unsafe products entering the country through these shipments. Some U.S. businesses have also advocated for the change, claiming it provides foreign manufacturers with an unfair advantage by circumventing tariffs.
However, the policy also faces opposition. The Cato Institute,a libertarian think tank,argues eliminating de minimis shipments will disproportionately harm lower-income Americans and create “an administrative nightmare” for logistics companies – a prediction currently being realized.
