The Department of Posts has announced a temporary suspension of most postal services to the United States starting August 25, following a US executive order that introduces new customs duties on international shipments. The decision comes in response to the US Administration’s Executive Order No. 14324, issued on July 30, which eliminates the duty-free de minimis exemption for goods valued up to USD 800, effective August 29.
Under the new US tariff framework, all postal items destined for the US, regardless of value, will now be subject to customs duties, except for gift items valued up to USD 100, which remain exempt. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued guidelines on August 15, 2025, requiring transport carriers or other approved entities to collect and remit duties on postal shipments. However, ambiguities surrounding the designation of “qualified parties” and the mechanisms for duty collection have led US-bound air carriers to refuse postal consignments after August 25, citing operational and technical challenges.
As a result, the Department of Posts will suspend the booking of all postal articles to the US, except for letters, documents, and gift items valued up to USD 100. These exempt categories will continue to be accepted and shipped, pending further clarification from CBP and the United States Postal Service (USPS).
The Department is actively engaging with stakeholders to monitor the situation and resolve the issues at the earliest. Customers affected by the suspension can seek refunds for postage on undelivered items. The Department expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and assured the public that it is working to restore full postal services to the US as soon as possible.