European Postal Services Halt Shipments to US Amid New Customs Rules
Several European postal services are temporarily suspending deliveries to the United States, beginning August 23rd, due to new customs regulations impacting goods from professional senders. The suspensions are expected to last until at least August 29th, with no guaranteed resumption date.
The changes stem from a commercial framework agreement between the US and the European Union (EU) finalized last month, which imposes a 15% customs duty on the majority of products shipped from the EU. This duty now applies to packages valued under US $800,a notable shift from previous policies.
This move extends a policy initially implemented in May, ending a previous exemption for goods originating from China.That earlier change was intended to discourage US consumers from purchasing low-value products from China. The new regulations now apply globally.
Postal services cite ambiguity surrounding the specifics of the new rules and insufficient time to adapt their systems as the primary reasons for the suspension. They express concern over the lack of clarity regarding which goods are subject to the duty and the logistical challenges of implementing the new procedures.
Italiane Posta announced on Friday that, mirroring actions by other European operators, it would halt acceptance of all shipments containing goods destined for the US from August 23rd. Shipments without goods will continue to be accepted. Express services like DHL are unaffected.
Björn Bergman, Director of Brand and Communication for Postnord, described the suspension as “regrettable, but necessary to guarantee full compliance” with the new regulations.
Postnl, the Dutch postal service, highlighted that the US administration implemented the new taxes without establishing a system for collecting them. They are actively collaborating with US counterparts to find a resolution.Austrian Post announced Tuesday as the final day for accepting commercial shipments to the US, including Puerto Rico. La Poste (French Post) stated that the US authorities did not provide sufficient information or time for postal operators to prepare for the new customs procedures, and no extension was granted to allow for necessary system updates.
Postorop,an association representing 51 European public postal operators,warned that if a solution isn’t found by August 29th,its members will likely follow suit and suspend shipments.
