Reference News Network, August 25 report: According to the Associated Press on August 23, the termination of tariff exemptions for low-value packages entering the United States has caused several international postal service agencies to suspend shipments while waiting for further clarification of the rules.

The so-called "small" exemption allows packages valued under $800 to enter the United States duty-free. Data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows that a total of 1.36 billion packages were delivered under this exemption in 2024, with a total value of $64.6 billion.

This exemption will expire on the 29th. On the 23rd, postal service agencies across Europe announced that they have suspended sending many packages to the United States due to confusion about new import tariffs.

Postal service agencies in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Italy said they would stop sending most goods to the United States immediately. France and Austria will follow on the 25th.

The UK Royal Mail said it will stop sending packages to the United States on the 26th. It stated that items sent from the UK exceeding $100 - including gifts for friends and family - will incur a 10% tariff.

DHL, Europe's largest transport company, said in a statement: "Key issues remain unresolved, especially how future tariffs will be collected and by whom, what additional data is required, and how data transmission to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection will take place."

The company said that starting on the 23rd, it "will no longer be able to accept and transport packages and postal items containing commercial customer goods destined for the United States."

The trade framework reached last month between the U.S. and the EU sets a 15% tariff on most goods shipped from the EU. Packages valued below $800 will also be affected by tariffs now.

Many European postal service agencies said they are currently suspending shipments because they cannot guarantee that goods will enter the U.S. before August 29. Their reason is that it is unclear which goods the new regulations apply to, and there is not enough time to process the impact of the regulations.

According to AFP on August 23, the Indian government said on the 23rd that India will suspend postal deliveries to the U.S. due to the confusion and chaos caused by President Donald Trump's tariffs.

This move comes less than a week before the decision by the Trump administration to cancel certain low-value package tax exemptions takes effect.

The Indian Ministry of Communications said that this administrative order issued last month requires transport companies or other "qualified parties" approved by the U.S. authorities to collect and pay duties in the form of remittances.

However, the Ministry said in a statement: "Several key processes related to selected 'qualified parties' and the mechanism for collecting and remitting duties remain unclear. Therefore, airlines flying to the U.S. have stated that they cannot accept postal deliveries after August 25, 2025, as they are not operationally and technically prepared."

Therefore, the Indian postal department will suspend all categories of mail items destined for the U.S. starting on the 25th, except letters, documents, and gifts worth no more than $100.

Before this move, postal services and mail transportation companies across Europe had taken similar actions.

The French postal office said it will suspend most parcel deliveries to the U.S. starting on the 25th.

It said the latest implemented regulations are those issued by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection on August 15, "giving European postal services extremely limited time to prepare."

The Trump administration has stated that it will cancel the tariff exemption for small packages entering the U.S. starting on August 29. (Translated by Yang Xinpeng)

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