Postal traffic to US sank 80% after Trump administration ended exemption on low-value parcels

"The UPU said information exchanged between postal operators through its electronic network showed traffic from its 192 member countries nearly all the world countries had fallen 81% on Aug. 29, compared to a week earlier. The Bern, Switzerland-based agency said the major operational disruptions have occurred because airlines and other carriers indicated they weren't willing or able to collect such duties, and foreign postal operators had not established a link to CBP-qualified companies."

"The Universal Postal Union says it has started rolling out new measures that can help postal operators around the world calculate and collect duties, or taxes, after the U.S. eliminated the so-called de minimis exemption for lower-value parcels. Eighty-eight postal operators have told the UPU that they have suspended some or all postal services to the United States until a solution is implemented with regard to U.S.-bound parcels valued at $800 or less, which had been the cutoff for imported goods to escape customs charges."

Postal traffic into the United States plunged more than 80% after the U.S. ended the de minimis tariff exemption for low-value imports. The Universal Postal Union began rolling out measures to help postal operators calculate and collect duties after the exemption was eliminated. Eighty-eight postal operators reported suspending some or all services to the United States pending a solution for parcels valued at $800 or less. The global postal network recorded an 81% fall in traffic on Aug. 29 compared with a week earlier. Major disruptions arose because airlines and carriers were unwilling or unable to collect duties and foreign postal operators had not linked to CBP-qualified companies. The de minimis exemption dated to 1938 and the administration described it as a loophole exploited by foreign businesses and criminals.

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