Royal Mail and DHL Temporarily Suspend US Deliveries Due to Tariff Changes: What You Need to Know

Postal services around the world are pausing some deliveries to the US due to confusion about new import taxes. These changes start on August 29, following an executive order by President Trump that ends the global import tax exemption on low-value parcels.

Currently, gifts worth under $100 can be sent without extra charges. However, packages above this value will now face regular tariff rates based on their country of origin. As a result, postal services like Royal Mail and DHL in Germany have halted deliveries until they can adapt to these new rules. Royal Mail hopes to set up a new system within a couple of days to resume its services.

The US previously allowed consumers to buy inexpensive items from overseas without paying duties, thanks to a de minimis exemption for packages valued at up to $800. But this rule, which allowed cheap shopping from sites like Shein, ended for Chinese goods earlier this year and is now impacting all other countries.

The White House argues that ending this exemption will help combat illegal shipping practices. The administration noted a remarkable increase in de minimis shipments, which rose from 115 million in the 2023/24 financial year to 309 million by June this year. Not just China, but Canada and Mexico have also been contributors to the rising number of low-cost packages sent to the US.

DHL has also temporarily stopped parcel deliveries for businesses to the US, citing unresolved issues about who will pay the new duties. They are actively monitoring the situation and working with US authorities to ready their services. Other companies, such as PostNord, have followed suit, halting their services until they can comply with the new rules.

Online marketplace Etsy is advising sellers to stay updated on shipping options, as changes to tariffs are ongoing. As of right now, personal items and gifts valued at $200 or less are still unaffected by these new regulations.

This rapid change in postal procedures reminds us of past shifts in trade policies. When tariffs were altered in previous decades, we saw immediate impacts on consumers and businesses alike. It’s a vital moment to consider how these new rules will affect cross-border shopping in the long run.



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