Fri, 22 Aug 2025

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 Royal Mail and DHL halt some US deliveries over tariffs

Services including Royal Mail and DHL say they are suspending deliveries until they have proper systems in place.
Postal services worldwide are temporarily halting deliveries to the US due to confusion over new import taxes that will be enforced from August 29th. The change, signed by President Trump last month, eliminates the exemption on low-value parcels worth less than $100 and imposes tariffs on packages exceeding this threshold. Royal Mail, Germany's DHL, and other postal services have suspended deliveries until they can implement proper systems to comply with the new rules. Royal Mail has withdrawn its current export services for businesses from Tuesday but hopes to establish a new system within two days. The company will continue to allow cards and letters to be sent as usual. The US had previously allowed consumers to purchase goods worth up to $800 without paying import duties, but this exemption was discontinued on May 2nd. The Trump administration claims that the change is necessary to combat "escalating deceptive shipping practices" and "duty circumvention". As a result of the new rules, Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany have temporarily suspended parcel delivery for business customers to the US from Saturday due to unresolved questions about duty payment. Online marketplace Etsy has also suspended shipping label purchases from August 25th for packages bound for the US. The changes are part of Trump's "big beautiful bill" that aims to restructure trade policies worldwide. While the new rule does not affect personal items or gifts worth less than $100, it is expected to have a significant impact on international trade and commerce.
  >>