Postal services across Europe and Asia will cease shipments to the United States following the Trump administration’s termination of the de minimis tariff exemption. This change, which takes effect on August 29, 2023, previously allowed international shipments valued under $800 to enter the US without incurring customs duties. The administration linked the end of this exemption to concerns over the influx of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the country.
In an official statement released on its website, DHL, Europe’s largest shipping company, announced that “Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany will no longer be able to accept and transport parcels and postal items containing goods from business customers destined for the US.” While DHL emphasized that these restrictions are temporary, the company highlighted the necessity of adapting to “new processes required by US authorities for postal shipping,” which differ significantly from previous regulations.
Numerous postal services across Europe have echoed this sentiment. Countries including Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Austria, France, and Belgium have announced plans to pause shipments to the US. The UK’s Royal Mail has also confirmed a temporary suspension of services. In Asia, postal authorities in Singapore and Thailand stated that they too will halt shipments pending further clarification on the new rules.
The decision to eliminate the de minimis threshold is expected to disrupt the flow of low-value parcels entering the US. According to Thailand Post, this exemption previously allowed “millions of small packages from around the world” to arrive in the US without complications. The organization expressed concern over the impact of this policy change on international shipping.
Australia Post has similarly paused the transit of certain packages destined for the US. In a statement, the Royal Mail indicated, “We have been working hard with US authorities and international partners to adapt our services to meet the new US de minimis requirements so UK consumers and businesses can continue to use our services when they come into effect.”
The move to end the de minimis exemption follows similar actions taken in May 2023, when the US halted the exemption for shipments originating from China. The White House cited that many Chinese-based shippers were exploiting this exemption to ship illicit substances, including synthetic opioids, in low-value packages. The Financial Times reported that shipments classified under de minimis have surged from 134 million in 2015 to 1.34 billion in 2024, significantly benefiting companies like Temu and Shein, which directly ship products to customers.
As the deadline approaches, many postal organizations are awaiting further guidance from US Customs and Border Protection on how customs duties will be collected and what additional data will be required for future shipments. The uncertainty surrounding these new regulations has led to widespread disruption in international shipping, highlighting the significant implications of the Trump administration’s policy changes on global trade.