Royal Mail Halts US Parcel Deliveries Over New Tariffs
Royal Mail has stopped accepting parcels to the US after the Trump administration axed the rule letting low-value packages enter duty-free. From Friday, all parcels worth $800 (£600) or less will face tariffs, ending the “de minimis” exemption.
Tariffs Hit Low-Value UK and EU Goods
- UK goods now face a 10% tariff
- EU goods slapped with a 15% levy
- Gifts under $100 (£75), cards, and 1 remain duty-free
Royal Mail suspended parcel acceptance from Tuesday to clear shipments already in the system. It’ll launch a new “US Postal Delivered Duties Paid” service from Thursday. Base postage stays the same, but a 50p handling fee per parcel covers US customs costs.
“We have been working hard with US authorities and international partners to adapt our services to meet the new US de minimis requirements so UK consumers and businesses can continue to use our services when they come into effect. Consumers sending gifts worth less than $100 will not have to pay duty.” – Royal Mail spokesperson
Blow for UK E-Commerce and Global Postal Services
The changes hit UK e-commerce exporters hard, with an estimated 1.4 billion parcels shipped to the US last year under the duty-free limit. Other global postal giants including Deutsche Post (DHL), Australia Post, India Post, and SingPost have also paused or restricted US parcels amid the tariff chaos.
DHL announced it won’t accept business parcels to the US until there’s clarity on who pays the tariffs and how customs data is handled. Royal Mail called the suspension “disappointing but necessary” while a permanent solution is sorted.
Read more from US News.
