Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a growing backlash to new U.S. trade regulations, 25 countries including major economies such as France, Germany, India, and Australia have suspended the shipment of parcels to the United States. The move comes in response to the Trump administration’s decision to impose new customs duties on small incoming packages, effective August 29.
The announcement was made Tuesday by the Universal Postal Union (UPU), a United Nations agency that coordinates international mail services. In a formal statement, the UPU confirmed that postal operators in the affected countries have halted outbound parcel services to the United States, citing “increased uncertainty” and “lack of operational clarity” regarding the new tariffs.
The U.S. administration’s plan involves eliminating long-standing customs exemptions on small packages a policy that had previously allowed many low-value international shipments to enter the country duty-free. The change is expected to affect millions of individual parcels each month, especially from countries with significant e-commerce traffic to the U.S.
“This suspension will remain in place until further notice,” the UPU said, “pending clearer guidance on how the U.S. authorities intend to implement the new regulations and the operational adjustments they require.”
While the precise nature of the new customs rules has not been publicly detailed in full, logistics experts warn that the measure could disrupt global e-commerce flows, delay deliveries, and increase shipping costs for consumers and retailers alike.
Postal agencies in the 25 countries say they have no choice but to temporarily stop accepting packages destined for U.S. addresses, citing the legal and logistical risk of packages being held, returned, or charged unexpected fees. The move is described as precautionary but could have wide-reaching effects if the impasse continues.
Several countries, including France and Germany, have issued separate public notices advising businesses and consumers to refrain from sending goods to the U.S. until the situation is resolved.
The UPU urged both the United States and affected countries to engage in dialogue to resolve the situation swiftly and prevent long-term disruptions to global postal networks. “It is critical that international mail operations remain predictable, fair, and transparent,” the agency said.
With the U.S. being one of the world’s largest destinations for international e-commerce, a prolonged postal suspension from key global markets could have ripple effects across supply chains particularly in the retail, electronics, and fashion sectors.
As of now, no timeline has been set for the resumption of services. The situation remains fluid.
