Postal traffic to the United States dropped by more than 80 percent after the U.S. government ended the “de minimis exemption” for low-value imports, according to the United Nations postal agency.

This exemption had previously allowed parcels valued at $800 or less to avoid customs duties, but its removal on August 29, 2025, shifted the responsibility for duty collection to carriers or CBP-approved parties.

In response, 88 postal operators suspended some or all mail services to the U.S., citing an inability or unwillingness to absorb the new duties.

The Universal Postal Union expressed alarm at the sudden halt in global postal activity and the resulting operational disruptions.

These developments underscore how changes in U.S. tariff policy can have immediate and sweeping international logistics consequences, as reported by The Guardian.