(WDNews) As new import taxes go into effect later this month, a number of postal systems in Europe and India are stopping package shipments to the US.
The majority of goods headed for the United States were no longer accepted by Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Italy on Saturday. France and Austria will follow on Monday, and the United Kingdom on Tuesday. India declared that, starting Monday, it will likewise stop delivering anything other than letters, documents, and presents under $100.
The suspensions take place before a deadline of August 29th, when items priced under $800 that were previously free from tariffs would be subject to import levies under a proclamation signed by President Donald Trump. Letters, books, presents, and packages under $100 will be exempt from duty.
The suspension, according to European postal services, is required due to limited time for system adjustments and ambiguity about whether commodities are subject to the new regulations. Business clients’ packages to the United States will no longer be accepted by Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany, while PostNord in Denmark and Sweden and Poste Italiane in Italy also made similar pronouncements on Saturday.
“Poste Italiane, like other European postal operators, will be forced to temporarily suspend acceptance of all shipments containing goods destined for the United States unless U.S. authorities give different instructions,” the firm stated in a statement.
The communications ministry of India clarified that although carriers or other eligible parties are required by U.S. regulations to collect and return tariffs, crucial procedures are still unclear. Due to a lack of preparation, Indian airlines informed authorities they would not be able to take U.S. shipments after August 25.
While Royal Mail in the United Kingdom announced it would stop shipments Tuesday to give packages time to arrive before duties take effect, France’s La Poste chastised U.S. officials for not giving enough time to update customs procedures.
51 European postal providers are represented by PostEurop, which issued a warning that all of its members may halt shipments by August 29 if no agreement is reached.
