Donald Trump has removed a rule that used to mean parcels being sent to the US with a value of under $800 were exempt from tariffs.
The cost of posting packages to the US is now set to increase from Friday 29th August 2025.
The fees incurred will relate to the tariff rates that apply to the country of origin.
Postal services will have a choice of either covering the increased cost, or much more likely, passing this on to the customer.
US Post Suspended
Dozens of countries have now suspended all package deliveries to the US while the new rules come into place to avoid parcels already in the system arriving after the cut-off deadline and incurring unaccounted for tariff fees. For example, the online marketplace seller Etsy has suspended US shipping label services via Royal Mail and Evri.
Why has the Exemption Been Removed?
The exemption has been removed in a bid to support US retailers.
Parcels under $800 were exempt under the ‘de minimis’ rule, which is a Latin term that refers to items too minor to be of concern. This rule now only applies to letters and personal gift items under $100.
President Trump has long believed that the de minimis rule has been abused by retailers. The rule allowed significant duty-free trade, permitting businesses to sell their goods to the US at lower prices if shipped in smaller quantities under $800.
According to US customs, “the US received 1.36bn packages in 2024 under the exemption, containing goods with a value of $64.6bn.”
Trump had already removed the de minimis rule for goods coming from China and Hong Kong in a bid to dramatically reduce the abuse by overseas retailers. But now all countries facing tariffs will be affected.
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For more on the US Postal Tariffs, read this article by the Guardian.