India will resume all categories of international postal services to the United States from October 15, the Department of Posts said on Tuesday. The services had been suspended since August following regulatory changes introduced by the United States.
The suspension, enforced via an Office Memorandum on August 22, came after Executive Order 14324 was issued by the U.S. administration, withdrawing de minimis treatment for inbound postal shipments. The move required postal administrations globally to comply with new U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) protocols for import duty collection and remittance.
India Post has now operationalised a Delivery Duty Paid (DDP) mechanism, following system upgrades, coordination with CBP-approved Qualified Parties, and successful operational trials in the Delhi and Maharashtra postal circles.
Under this arrangement, customs duties applicable on postal shipments to the U.S. will be collected upfront at the time of booking in India and remitted directly to CBP through approved intermediaries. This ensures faster customs clearance and uninterrupted delivery to recipients in the U.S., with no additional duties or delays at the destination.
As per CBP guidelines, postal shipments from India are subject to a flat 50 per cent customs duty on the declared Free on Board (FOB) value under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). No product-specific or base duties apply, making the postal channel significantly more cost-effective compared to commercial courier services.
In a relief to exporters, the Department clarified that no additional charges would be levied for facilitating the DDP mechanism or Qualified Party services. Postal tariffs remain unchanged.
The resumption is expected to benefit micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), artisans, small traders, and e-commerce exporters by providing a more affordable and transparent logistics channel for shipping to the U.S.
Customers can now book EMS, Air Parcels, Registered Letters and Packets, and Tracked Packets to the U.S. from any post office, International Business Centre (IBC), Dak Ghar Niryat Kendra (DNK), or through the India Post website at [www.indiapost.gov.in](http://www.indiapost.gov.in).
The Department said the introduction of the DDP mechanism simplifies compliance and improves the ease of doing business by allowing senders to prepay duties in India, making total shipping costs more predictable and reducing friction for recipients abroad.
The move is in line with government initiatives such as Make in India, One District One Product (ODOP), and the expansion of Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras, aimed at boosting exports by providing reliable and globally compliant logistics infrastructure.
Heads of postal circles have been directed to launch awareness campaigns to educate exporters, small businesses, and entrepreneurs about the new system and encourage greater use of the postal export channel.