Postal traffic into the United States has decreased by over 80% following the termination of a tariff exemption for low-cost imports by the Trump administration. This information was reported by the United Nations postal agency, the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
On August 29, 2025, the U.S. implemented new rules that assign the responsibility of customs duty collection to transportation carriers or approved parties, marking a significant shift in how low-value parcels are handled. The UPU noted that 88 postal operators have suspended services to the U.S. for parcels valued at $800 or less, which previously benefited from the exemption.
Data from the UPU indicated an 81% drop in postal traffic from its 192 member countries on the day the new rules took effect, compared to the previous week. The UPU attributed these substantial operational disruptions to airlines and carriers being unwilling or unable to manage the new duty collections, as well as foreign postal operators lacking connections to approved customs partners.
Prior to the implementation of this measure, the UPU expressed concerns to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the potential repercussions of this policy change. The de minimis exemption had been in place since 1938, and according to the administration, it was being exploited by foreign businesses to avoid tariffs, as well as by criminals to facilitate the smuggling of drugs into the country.
As a result of the new rules, purchases previously exempt from customs duties are now subject to various tariffs that can range from 10% to 50%, depending on the country of origin. However, U.S. residents will still be exempt from duties on gifts valued at up to $100 and personal souvenirs worth up to $200 from abroad. The UPU has indicated that its members have not received sufficient guidance to comply with the procedures following the executive order that eliminated the duty-free status of low-value goods.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/06/postal-traffic-us-plunges