DHL, India and Japan Among Entities Temporarily Pausing International Mail to US
More international postal carriers have announced that they are temporarily suspending shipments to the U.S. that would've been eligible for the de minimis exception, according to multiple news sources (see 2508210036).
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The de minimis exception officially ends for all countries on Aug. 29. Beginning on that date, international shipments will be subject to duties of the respective countries, or they may face a flat fee of $80 per item for goods from countries that have reciprocal tariffs of less than 16%, $160 for goods from countries with rates between 16% and 25%, and $200 per item for goods from countries with reciprocal tariffs of above 25%. That alternative methodology will be available for six months (see 2507300046).
DHL confirmed late last week that Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany no longer would be able to accept and transport parcels and postal items containing goods from business customers destined for the U.S. after Aug. 22 amid "new processes required by U.S. authorities for postal shipping."
"Key questions remain unresolved, particularly regarding how and by whom customs duties will be collected in the future, what additional data will be required, and how the data transmission to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be carried out," DHL said in an Aug. 22 release.
Japan Post said Aug. 25 that it also would temporarily halt shipments to the U.S. starting on Aug. 29. The mail carrier noted that CBP announced new guidelines for international shipments after the end of de minimis, and the guidelines "require that transport operators pay customs deposits to CBP and prepare customs declarations. The procedures that transport operators and postal operators in each country must follow to comply with these guidelines are not clear, however, making implementation difficult."
Some mail, such as gifts between individuals with a value of less than $100, will be excluded from this pause, Japan Post said, which is in line with other countries' policies (see 2508220013).
India's Department of Posts is another mail carrier temporarily suspending shipments, according to multiple reports.
Last week, CBP updated its Frequently Asked Questions page on e-commerce to direct users to its Aug. 15 guidance on paying duties on international mail (see 2508220051). The agency also indicated that it's starting to list on CBP's website which qualified parties acting in lieu of a carrier have been qualified by CBP to collect and pay duty on international mail that previously would have been eligible for the de minimis exemption (see 2508210055).