Confusion caused by the Trump Administration in Washington is halting the shipment of low-value packages, such as family gifts, and sending purchases home to US visitors. European postal services had had enough, and many countries now say ‘no.
The international postal service originated in Persia around 1200. Today, the Universal Postal Union is a specialized agency of the United Nations and the primary forum for international cooperation in the postal sector. This has the potential to stop millions of packages until the situation can be clarified.
This cooperation was interrupted today by US President Donald Trump, who has confused postal services around Europe. As a result, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Italy are stopping all package shipments to the United States, effective immediately. France and Austria will follow on Monday.
This will include family gifts or packages for travelers to send with gifts purchased while on vacation.
The end of an exemption on tariff duties for low-value packages entering the United States is causing multiple international postal services to pause shipping as they await further clarity on the rule.
The exemption, known as the “ de minimis” exemption, allows packages worth less than $800 to come into the U.S. duty-free.
A total of 1.36 billion packages were sent in 2024 under this exemption, for goods worth $64.6 billion, according to data from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agency.
The U.K.’s Royal Mail will halt shipments to the U.S. on Tuesday to allow time for those packages to arrive before duties take effect. Items originating in the United Kingdom worth over $100 — including gifts to friends and family — will incur a 10% duty, it said.
