Due to the Trump administration's tariffs, post offices around the world, including Japan Post, have stopped sending mail to the United States. What is going on?
On July 30, 2025, President Donald Trump signed
Postal services around the world suspend deliveries to US: how will it affect you? | Trump tariffs | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/26/postal-services-suspend-us-usa-deliveries-how-will-it-affect-you
President Trump has suspended the 'de minimis' system, which previously exempted small shipments under $800 (approximately 118,000 yen) from customs duties. With the elimination of this system, all related duties will be imposed on small shipments that were previously exempt from customs duties starting August 29, 2025. However, items sent by foreigners to Americans as legitimate gifts will be exempt from customs duties up to $100 (approximately 15,000 yen).
The de minimis system kept costs low when exchanging goods between individuals, but it has also led to problems such as people abusing the de minimis system to send illegal drugs to the United States, or companies dividing small shipments into smaller shipments and exporting them in large quantities, causing significant losses to the United States.
Following the suspension of the de minimis system, postal companies around the world have temporarily suspended shipments.
Japan Post has temporarily suspended the acceptance of some mail addressed to the United States from Wednesday, August 27, 2025, citing unclear guidelines published by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection following the suspension of the de minimis system, making it extremely difficult to implement. However, the postal service will continue to accept letters, postcards, printed matter, EMS (documents), and mail containing gifts between individuals with a value of $100 or less (small packets, parcels, and EMS (goods)).
Temporary suspension of mail delivery to the United States due to changes in U.S. tariffs and regulations - 0825_01_01.pdf
(PDF file) https://www.post.japanpost.jp/notification/pressrelease/2025/00_honsha/0825_01_01.pdf
Swiss Post has announced that it will stop accepting all parcels destined for the United States except for document and express mail, and is making arrangements to handle parcels under $100.
Norway , Sweden, and Denmark will suspend all non-letter shipments to the United States and Puerto Rico starting August 23, 2025 local time.
Italy , India , Australia , Germany and other countries have also similarly suspended shipments of some cargo.
Canada Post has advised customers that it will continue shipping parcels after August 29th and will prepare a system for paying customs duties.
Olimex, a retailer of electronics products, said of the current tariffs, 'The problem is that importers have to declare the exact amount of steel, copper, aluminum, etc. contained in their products. For example, printed circuit boards (PCBs) contain copper wiring, but it is nearly impossible to estimate the amount. If they do not provide this information, the entire PCB is assumed to be made up of copper or aluminum, and 100% tariffs are levied on the entire product. This is unnecessarily complicated.'
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