ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has temporarily suspended mail delivery to the United States in response to new taxes and duties imposed by the Trump administration. According to local media, Pakistan Post halted all booked mail to the US due to fears that shipments would be returned under the new regulations, which came into effect with an executive order on July 25.
The New Rules and Their Global Impact
The new US policy has eliminated a previous duty-free facility for imported goods. Under the old system, parcels valued below $800 were able to enter the US tax-free. Now, all mail deliveries must be taxed, a sudden change that has created logistical chaos for postal services worldwide. This abrupt policy shift has led several countries to suspend or partially suspend mail delivery to the United States.
Australia: On August 26, Australia Post announced a temporary partial suspension of postal services to the US and Puerto Rico. The decision was a direct result of the new US customs and import tariff rules, which require tariffs to be prepaid. The new rules effectively eliminate a key loophole that Australian retailers relied on for tax-free exports to American customers.
Switzerland: Swiss Post followed suit, halting all postal consignments to the US except for urgent express mail like official documents. The agency cited the new US customs regulations as an obstacle to the regular shipping process, noting that its decision mirrored those of other European postal operators.
India: India also confirmed a suspension of most parcel shipments to the US, effective August 25. The Department of Posts (DoP) initially suspended a few categories of mail but later expanded the suspension to all postal articles, including letters, documents, and gifts valued up to $100. According to a DoP statement, the decision was made due to the “inability of carriers to transport US-bound mail and undefined regulatory mechanisms.”
Other European Nations: France’s postal service, La Poste, complained that the sudden policy change gave them no time to reconfigure their digital systems to handle the new requirements. Other countries like Sweden, Germany, and Italy have also announced similar suspensions, highlighting the widespread disruption caused by the new US tariffs.
