ATHENS, Greece — An imminent change to U.S. tariff regulations is causing some international postal services to halt shipments as they navigate the potential impact of the new rules. The “de minimis” exemption, which currently allows packages valued under $800 to enter the U.S. without duties, is set to expire, leaving postal services uncertain about how to adapt.

This exemption facilitated the entry of 1.36 billion packages in 2024, amounting to $64.6 billion in goods, as reported by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency. However, as the expected deadline approaches on Friday, many postal operators across Europe are temporarily suspending their services for shipments to the United States until the new regulations are clarified.

On Saturday, postal services in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Italy announced their immediate cessation of most merchandise shipments to the U.S., with France and Austria indicating they would follow suit soon after. The Royal Mail in the United Kingdom plans to halt U.S. shipments on Tuesday to allow time for items to reach their destinations before the new duties take effect. Under the revised rules, packages valued over $100 will incur a 10% duty.

“Key questions remain unanswered, particularly regarding the collection of customs duties, additional data requirements, and the transmission of this information to U.S. authorities,” said DHL, the largest shipping company in Europe. Citing these uncertainties, DHL announced on Saturday that it would not accept parcels from business customers destined for the U.S.

A recent trade agreement between the U.S. and the European Union has introduced a 15% tariff on most products shipped from the EU, applying the same duty to packages previously exempt due to their lower value. The U.S. had already eliminated its duty-free exemption for goods from China earlier this year, restricting low-value imports as part of efforts to manage domestic purchasing behavior.

European postal services are acting cautiously, acknowledging that they cannot guarantee deliveries will reach the U.S. before August 29. Many have expressed concerns regarding the ambiguity surrounding the new regulations and the insufficient time provided to adapt their operational processes.

PostNord, a Nordic logistics company, and Italy’s postal service have announced similar measures. Poste Italiane noted that it would suspend acceptance of all shipments containing goods for the U.S. as of August 23, though mail not containing merchandise would still be accepted. Meanwhile, DHL Express continues to offer shipping options amid the uncertainty.

In the Netherlands, PostNL’s spokesperson remarked on the pressing timeframe, urging customers to send packages as soon as possible. The company emphasized the need for cooperation with U.S. counterparts to resolve the ongoing issues.

Austrian Post highlighted that its last acceptance of commercial shipments to the U.S., including Puerto Rico, will be on Tuesday. France’s La Poste expressed frustration over the lack of sufficient preparation time and the absence of necessary details from U.S. authorities regarding the new customs protocols.

PostEurop, which represents 51 European postal operators, has indicated that if no resolution is reached by the end of August, more postal services are expected to follow the trend of halting shipments to the U.S. The evolving landscape of international shipping regulations continues to create challenges as operators seek to comply with new standards while ensuring continuity of service.