Graduate student Nicole Lobo returned to the United States in late August after a year in the UK, shipping ten boxes of belongings to Philadelphia. Six weeks later, she remains without her shipment, fearing it may have been lost or disposed of by UPS, which is currently facing challenges due to new customs regulations. In late August, the Trump administration instituted rules requiring packages worth less than $800 to undergo inspection, taxes, and tariffs, leading to an estimated four million packages daily falling under these stricter requirements.
This new policy has created significant delays and heightened costs for shippers, leaving many customers anxious about their packages being stuck in the backlog. Janani Mohan, a Michigan engineer, reported similar difficulties. Her package, containing her wedding dress and other sentimental items, appears to be on the verge of disposal, raising her distress as she tries to resolve the situation.
Businesses are similarly affected. Mizuba Tea Co., which imports matcha from Japan, has five shipments worth over $100,000 stuck in processing. Lauren Purvis, a co-owner of the company, noted that conflicting notifications had added to their uncertainty about the status of their goods. The rapid implementation of new tariff rules has made compliance increasingly challenging for importers, contributing to delays.
UPS indicated that about 90% of international shipments are cleared within a day, yet recipients—including Lobo and Mohan—reported not receiving any notifications about their packages prior to alerts indicating potential disposal. FedEx, on the other hand, mentioned it does not destroy packages unless directed by the shipper.
As the situation unfolds, experts suggest that the repercussions may extend throughout the supply chain. FedEx anticipates significant financial impacts due to operational adjustments required by the new trade regulations, highlighting concerns that disruptions may worsen before improving.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj9zmeerp1xo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss