Small packages entering the United States will be subject to tariffs starting this Friday

The tariff exemption for all small packages entering the United States will end at 04:01 GMT on Friday, and after this time, small packages will be subject to tariffs. This decision by the Trump administration has prompted postal services from 25 countries to suspend sending packages to the United States.

Previously, goods valued below $800 could be imported into the United States duty-free through packages.

However, President Trump issued an executive order on July 30, deciding to cancel the tariff exemptions for these small packages starting this Friday. Trump's reason was that the tariff exemption for small packages was being used to evade tariffs and transport synthetic opioids and other dangerous products, which is a "loophole," and Trump wants to close this "catastrophic loophole."

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), 98% of the narcotics seized in 2024 were sent via small packages, 97% of counterfeit goods also came from small packages, and 70% of harmful products for health also came from small packages.

The U.S. government said that the number of small packages entering the United States has grown too fast, increasing from 134 million in 2015 to over 1.36 billion in 2024.

Going forward, packages valued over $100 must be taxed at the same rate as other imported goods, which is a minimum of 10% tax, 15% for packages from EU countries, and up to 50% for packages from India and Brazil.

Even before it takes effect, this measure has already begun to disrupt the delivery of packages to the United States. According to the United Nations Postal Organization, due to the uncertainty caused by the new tariffs, 25 countries' postal services have decided to suspend sending packages to the United States, including Germany, France, Italy, and the UK, as well as countries such as India, Japan, Australia, and Mexico.

Source: rfi

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841746302425092/

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