Several European countries will temporarily halt parcel deliveries to the United States later this month as postal operators struggle to adapt to new U.S. customs requirements, according to a report first published by Business Insider.
Postal services in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Belgium – including Posten Bring, PostNord, and bpost – announced they will suspend shipments to the U.S. starting August 23, just days before the American government ends the long-standing “de minimis” exemption. That exemption has allowed international shipments valued under $800 to enter duty-free with minimal paperwork.
With the exemption ending on August 29, parcels sent from overseas will now be subject to tariffs. Postal operators said they currently lack the mechanisms to process customs declarations, collect duties in advance, or manage returns if recipients refuse to pay.
“Due to the short timeframe to adapt to the new specific requirements, PostNord will temporarily halt shipments to the United States and Puerto Rico until a compliant solution has been developed and implemented,” the company said in a statement Wednesday. Posten Bring echoed those concerns, calling suspension the “only option” until clearer guidance is provided.
The suspension applies to all parcels except letters, meaning shoppers in North America awaiting packages from these countries could see cancellations or delays until operators put new systems in place.
The uncertainty has already rippled through online commerce. Etsy announced it will temporarily suspend U.S. shipping labels from several operators – including Australia Post, Canada Post, Evri, and Royal Mail – starting August 25, citing the inability to support prepaid duties. Independent U.K. sellers have also begun halting orders to the U.S., with some reporting new flat fees of more than $80 for parcels sent through Royal Mail.
While the suspension is described as temporary, postal services have not indicated when shipments might resume. In the meantime, shoppers eyeing overseas purchases are being warned that their orders could be cancelled or come with unexpected costs.