Multiple postal services around Europe say they are suspending the shipment of many packages to the United States amid a lack of clarity over new import duties.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The end of an exemption on tariff duties for low-value packages coming into the United States is causing multiple international postal services to pause shipping as they await more clarity on the rule.

The exemption, known as the “ de minimis” exemption, allows packages worth less than $800 to come into the U.S. duty free. A total of 1.36 billion packages were sent in 2024 under this exemption, for goods worth $64.6 billion, according to data from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agency.

It is set to expire on Friday. On Saturday, postal services around Europe announced that they are suspending the shipment of many packages to the United States amid confusion over new import duties.

  • picnic@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    20·
    1 day ago

    I think one of the reasons is that US is now demanding shippers pay the tariffs, which is unheard of and no shipping company has mechanisms to achieve this.

    • AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.worldEnglish
      7·
      9 hours ago

      From what they say here it’s because tariffs are paid on delivery, so by US people, and many of them refuse to do so. And shipping companies don’t want to deal with this mess.

    • Diurnambule@jlai.luEnglish
      3·
      19 hours ago

      Are you sure ? In Europe at least you pay tarif directly to to the vendor and he pay the tariff for you. That seem a normal thing for expedition. Is it not because nobody know which tariff apply to which goods or countries ?

      • DacoTaco@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        8 hours ago

        Youre right, but if you buy something and taxes arent paid, or paperwork isnt done right, you will be paying for it on delivery.
        The us is like that from what ive read on the case of tarrifs.
        Tbh, their whole sales tax and extra costs system is fucked and its the reason i dont order from the us or uk anyway. To much shit to deal with