The Department of Posts has announced a temporary suspension of most international postal services to the United States, effective from today, August 25th. This unprecedented decision comes in response to significant regulatory changes in the US, which have led to a lack of operational preparedness among air carriers. The suspension will affect a wide range of goods and parcels being sent from India to the US, with only a few specific categories being exempted from the ban. The move has created a state of uncertainty for exporters and individuals who rely on the postal service for international shipments, highlighting the far-reaching impact of global trade and customs policies.
The core of the issue stems from a new US policy, which was officially outlined in Executive Order No. 14324 on July 30th. This order, which is set to come into full effect on August 29th, withdraws the “de minimis” exemption that previously allowed goods valued at up to $800 to enter the US without customs duties. Under the new rules, all goods sent to the US, regardless of their value, will be subject to duties under a new tariff framework. Furthermore, the order places the responsibility for collecting and remitting these duties on transport carriers and “qualified parties” authorised by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
According to a press release from the government, while the CBP issued some initial guidelines on August 15th, key implementation details, such as the process for designating “qualified parties” and the systems for collecting and remitting duties, have yet to be finalised. This unresolved ambiguity has left air carriers, who are responsible for transporting international mail, unprepared to comply with the new requirements. As a result, they have informed the Department of Posts that they are unable to accept postal consignments after August 25th.
The department has, therefore, been forced to suspend the booking of most international postal articles destined for the US. The only exceptions to the suspension are letters, documents, and gift items with a declared value of up to $100. These exempted categories will continue to be accepted and transported, subject to further clarification from US authorities. The department has expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to customers and has reassured the public that it is in close coordination with all relevant stakeholders to find a solution. Efforts are underway to restore full postal services to the US as soon as possible, but no timeline has been provided. This development is a clear example of how changes in one country’s regulatory framework can have a significant ripple effect on global supply chains and logistics.
