Postal Traffic Drops 80% After Trump Ends Exemption
- import policy triggered a dramatic decline in international postal traffic, impacting postal services worldwide.
- Postal traffic into the United States experienced a decline of over 80% after the Trump governance ended a tariff exemption for low-cost imports, according to the Universal Postal...
- The UPU stated that the elimination of the "de minimis exemption" - previously allowing parcels valued at $800 or less to enter the U.S.
Postal Traffic to the U.S. Plummets After Tariff Exemption Ends
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A change in U.S. import policy triggered a dramatic decline in international postal traffic, impacting postal services worldwide.
The Dramatic Drop in U.S.-Bound Postal Traffic
Postal traffic into the United States experienced a decline of over 80% after the Trump governance ended a tariff exemption for low-cost imports, according to the Universal Postal Union (UPU) on August 30, 2025. This change, implemented on August 29, 2025, fundamentally altered how duties and taxes are handled on imported goods.
The UPU stated that the elimination of the “de minimis exemption” – previously allowing parcels valued at $800 or less to enter the U.S. without customs charges – placed the duty for collecting and remitting customs duties on transportation carriers or parties approved by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Widespread Service Suspensions
As a direct result of the new rules, 88 postal operators worldwide have suspended some or all postal service to the United States. These suspensions remain in effect until a viable solution is implemented to address the complexities of duty collection on lower-value parcels. The UPU reported this widespread disruption on August 30, 2025.
The UPU explained that the global postal network “saw postal traffic to the US come to a near-halt” following the implementation of the new regulations. This highlights the significant impact of the policy change on international postal flows.
The De Minimis Exemption: A Background
The “de minimis” exemption is a provision in customs regulations that allows goods below a certain value to be imported without being subject to duties or taxes. Prior to August 29, 2025, the U.S. de minimis value was $800. This exemption was intended to facilitate low-value shipments and reduce administrative burdens for both importers and customs authorities.
The U.S. government argued that eliminating the exemption would level the playing field for domestic businesses and increase revenue collection. However, the UPU and many international postal operators contend that the change has created significant logistical challenges and disrupted established trade patterns.
UPU’s Response and new Measures
The Universal Postal Union is actively working to mitigate the impact of the changes. The UPU is rolling out new measures designed to help postal operators calculate and collect duties,or taxes,on eligible parcels. These measures aim to streamline the process and ensure compliance with U.S. regulations.
The UPU is facilitating details exchange among postal operators through it’s existing systems to support the implementation of these new procedures. The goal is to restore efficient postal service to the United States while adhering to the updated U.S. import policies.