International postal shipments to the United States have plunged by over 80% following the Trump administration’s termination of the de minimis tariff exemption for low-value imports, according to a statement released Saturday by the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
The move, which took effect on August 29, 2025, has triggered widespread disruption in global mail services, with 88 foreign postal operators suspending some or all shipments to the U.S. amid mounting logistical challenges and customs obligations.
“The global network saw postal traffic to the U.S. come to a near-halt,” the UPU said, adding that enforcement of the new customs rules marked the first time transport carriers or CBP-approved entities were required to collect and remit duties on behalf of the U.S. government.
The de minimis exemption, first introduced in 1938, allowed low-value parcels—previously under $800—to enter the U.S. without customs charges. Its removal is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to close what it calls a “loophole” exploited by foreign sellers to bypass tariffs and allegedly used by traffickers to smuggle contraband, including drugs.
According to the White House, imported goods now face standard customs scrutiny and are subject to origin-based tariffs ranging from 10% to 50%. However, U.S. residents remain exempt from paying duties on gifts under $100 and personal souvenirs worth up to $200 brought back from international travel.
The UPU, a UN-affiliated agency based in Bern, Switzerland, reported that postal traffic from its 192 member countries fell 81% on the first day of implementation, compared to a week prior. The drop was attributed to widespread confusion and resistance among airlines, postal services, and logistics providers, many of which said they are unable or unwilling to handle the additional customs workload.
Postal agencies around the world, the UPU said, have yet to build systems that link with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)-qualified carriers, a requirement now necessary to process inbound shipments.
In the lead-up to the policy shift, the UPU warned of potential consequences in a letter addressed to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging caution and highlighting the risk of global disruption to e-commerce and gift parcel delivery.
Analysts say the elimination of the de minimis exemption will have ripple effects across cross-border e-commerce, particularly impacting small businesses and consumers who rely on international platforms for lower-cost goods.
“This policy change turns casual purchases and gift exchanges into tariffed transactions,” said one trade expert, “effectively creating a digital customs wall for global mail.”
While the administration defends the change as necessary to strengthen border enforcement and protect American industry, critics argue the new rules may strain international trade relationships and burden consumers with unexpected costs and delays.
As the UPU scrambles to implement new duty calculation systems, postal operators and governments worldwide are calling for greater clarity and coordination to restore a functioning mail pipeline into the United States.
