The Department of Posts on Saturday announced a temporary suspension of all postal services to the United States, effective from August 25, 2025. The move comes in response to recent changes in U.S. customs regulations, which are set to take effect later this month.
This development follows the issuance of Executive Order No. 14324 by the U.S. administration on July 30. The order withdraws the long-standing de minimis exemption that allowed goods valued up to $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free. As a result, all items sent from India to the U.S. through postal channels will now face customs duties under the newly revised framework.
The Department of Posts cited the significant impact of these regulatory changes on international mail processing, stating that compliance with the updated U.S. customs procedures would require a complete overhaul of existing dispatch systems. “In light of these changes and to avoid operational disruptions, the Department has decided to temporarily halt all postal shipments to the United States until further notice,” the statement read.
The suspension comes amid growing trade tensions between the two nations. U.S. President Donald Trump recently announced a 25% tariff on Indian goods, along with an additional 25% penalty on imports linked to Russian oil purchases. This effectively raises the total tariff burden on certain Indian exports to 50%, further straining bilateral trade relations.
Adding to the complexity, the U.S. has invoked provisions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which now governs the tariff structure for incoming international parcels. According to the new guidelines, starting August 29, all international postal items destined for the U.S., regardless of their declared value, will be subject to customs duties under the IEEPA tariff framework.
However, the Department clarified that gift items valued up to $100 will continue to be exempt from duties, offering limited relief for personal parcels.
The Department of Posts assured the public that it is actively monitoring the situation and will resume services once clarity and operational feasibility are restored.
