New Delhi: Citing operational changes in US customs rules linked to Trump tariffs that will come into effect later this month, the department of posts on Saturday announced a temporary suspension of all postal services to the US from August 25.
The decision comes after the U.S. administration ended the duty-free exemption for low-value goods, previously capped at $800, under a new customs order that takes effect on August 29. Under the revised system, all postal consignments, regardless of value, will attract customs duty. The move is part of Washington’s broader effort to close what it called “loopholes” in cross-border e-commerce.
Indian postal authorities said they were suspending services as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has not provided clarity on how the new duties will be collected and remitted by international postal operators. “Without clear procedures in place, we cannot process items bound for the US,” a senior postal official said.
The suspension will affect most parcel and goods services. However, the Department clarified that letters, documents, and gift items up to $100 in value will still be accepted for dispatch to the U.S. until further notice.
The move is expected to disrupt cross-border trade and personal shipments between India and the U.S., a route that handles significant e-commerce traffic. Postal operators in several other countries, including South Korea, Singapore, and European nations, have also halted or restricted parcel shipments to the U.S. over similar concerns.
The changes follow an executive order issued by Trump on July 30, eliminating the long-standing “de minimis” exemption for low-value imports. The rule, which saw shipments under $800 enter duty-free, was widely used by global sellers and individuals for small parcels. Between 2015 and 2024, such shipments surged from 134 million to over 1.3 billion annually.
India has expressed regret over the inconvenience caused and said services will resume once the U.S. authorities provide detailed operational guidelines.
