United States parcel deliveries temporarily halted by EU postal services
In a significant development, many European postal operators have temporarily halted or severely restricted shipments of packages to the United States due to new U.S. customs regulations. The regulations, announced by the U.S. government under President Donald Trump on August 29, 2025, eliminate the "de minimis exemption" for low-value imports, effective from the same date [1][2][3].
The suspension largely impacts goods from business customers, although private shipments such as gifts up to $100 and documents can generally still be sent [2]. This decision affects several European countries' postal services, including Deutsche Post/DHL Germany, La Poste France, Österreichische Post Austria, Česká pošta Czechia, and others [1][2].
The U.S. government's Executive Order ending the de minimis exemption means all incoming goods, regardless of value, are now subject to customs duties and new vetting processes. This has caused significant logistical and procedural challenges for postal operators [1][2].
Posten Bring, a Norwegian postal service, stated that U.S. customs authorities have not yet clarified the details of the new regulations [1]. PostNord, serving Sweden and Denmark, and bpost from Belgium have also suspended package shipments to the U.S., with bpost specifying that the suspension only affects shipments with goods, not letters [1].
The Universal Postal Union is actively engaging with U.S. authorities to resolve issues around customs duties collection and data transmission, aiming to restore normal postal flows [3]. DHL, a German logistics giant, is reviewing the matter but has not yet decided on how to react [1].
European mail companies, including Posten Bring, PostNord, and bpost, have collectively expressed the need for clarity on the new regulations [1]. As of late August 2025, the suspension remains in place across most European postal networks, with efforts underway to reestablish postal shipping to the U.S. as soon as the regulatory, operational, and compliance uncertainties are settled [1][3].
In the future, all duties will be charged for these packages, marking a shift in the cost structure for international shipping [1]. It remains to be seen how these changes will impact businesses and consumers alike. The situation is evolving, and updates are expected as more information becomes available.
