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Several European postal services halt shipments to US over new tariff confusion
Confusion reigns as new US import duties leave European postal services scrambling. Several countries, including Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Italy, have temporarily suspended shipments of merchandise to the US.
France, Austria, and the UK will join the fray early next week. India has also announced a similar suspension, impacting all shipments except letters, documents, and gifts under $100.
The disruption stems from a decree signed by President Trump last month, extending tariffs to international goods previously exempt. While items under $100, including letters and small gifts, remain exempt, the new rules introduce a 15% tariff on the vast majority of goods shipped from the EU.
The sudden implementation has left postal services struggling to adapt. Many cite a lack of clarity regarding the new rules and insufficient time to implement necessary changes before the August 29th deadline. They also worry about goods arriving after the deadline and being subject to the new tariffs.
Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany have stopped accepting parcels with goods from business customers. PostNord and Italy’s postal service echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need to comply with the new regulations. While express shipping services like DHL Express remain unaffected, standard postal deliveries face significant disruption.
The situation is further complicated by a lack of a clear system for collecting the new duties. PostNL, the Dutch postal service, highlighted this issue, noting that the US is pushing forward with the tariffs despite lacking a collection mechanism. India’s communications ministry expressed similar concerns, stating that US-bound air carriers are unable to accept postal shipments due to a lack of “operational and technical readiness.”
With the deadline fast approaching, postal services across Europe are working to find a solution. However, if the issues remain unresolved, PostEurop, an association representing 51 European postal operators, warns that further suspensions are likely.