European Postal Services Halt US Shipments Over Tariff Uncertainty
The move, prompted by the end of a U.S. duty-free rule, is set to disrupt e-commerce and logistics operations.
Major European postal services are suspending parcel shipments to the United States, a coordinated move that threatens to disrupt the transatlantic e-commerce market ahead of a significant U.S. policy change. The suspensions come in response to the Trump administration's executive order eliminating the long-standing 'de minimis' rule, which has allowed packages valued under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free.
The policy, set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on August 29, has created significant uncertainty for international logistics providers. Postal operators in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and other European nations have stated they will halt shipments because of a lack of clarity on how new import duties will be collected and processed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany announced they would no longer accept U.S.-bound items from business customers, stating that 'key questions remain unresolved' regarding customs duties collection and data transmission. Similarly, the Association of European Postal Services, PostEurop, warned that its members 'may be constrained to temporarily restrict or suspend the shipping of goods' due to the undefined processes and the 'extremely short timeframe to prepare.'
The abrupt halt is expected to impact billions of dollars in trade, particularly affecting small to medium-sized e-commerce businesses and online marketplaces that rely on the postal network to reach U.S. consumers. While the executive order was framed as a measure to combat fentanyl trafficking and enhance national security, the immediate consequence is a logistical bottleneck that could lead to increased costs and significant delays for U.S. importers and consumers.