European postal services are suspending shipments to the United States as President Donald Trump’s tariff overhaul dismantles a long-standing import duty exemption. The disruption centers on the expiration of the “de minimis” exemption, which allowed packages under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free. With the exemption set to expire next Friday, confusion over the new rules has already led postal carriers across Europe to pause U.S.-bound shipments.
Postal services in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Italy halted merchandise shipments effective Saturday. France and Austria will suspend shipments on Monday, and the U.K. will follow Tuesday. Major carriers say they lack clarity on how duties will be calculated, who is responsible for collecting them, and how customs data will be transmitted to U.S. officials.
DHL, Europe’s largest logistics provider, announced it could no longer process parcels containing goods for U.S. delivery. “Key questions remain unresolved,” the company said, citing uncertainty around compliance procedures.
The U.S.-EU trade framework finalized last month established a 15% tariff on most European goods entering the U.S., including those previously covered under the $800 exemption. Some countries, like the U.K., announced a 10% duty on items over $100. Without proper guidance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, postal services say they cannot guarantee shipments will be processed in time or meet new legal requirements.
Poste Italiane, France’s La Poste, and Austria’s Österreichische Post all cited insufficient preparation time and lack of clear instructions from U.S. authorities. PostEurop, representing 51 European postal operators, warned that if no resolution is reached by August 29, widespread suspension of shipments could follow across the continent.
