India Post has temporarily suspended the booking and transmission of all types of postal items to the United States starting August 25. This decision follows the US administration’s Executive Order 14324, which ends the duty-free de minimis exemption for shipments valued up to $800, effective from August 29.
According to the Ministry of Communications, only letters, documents, and gifts valued below $100 will be exempt from this suspension. The ministry stated that under the new US directive, transport carriers or “qualified parties” approved by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) must now collect and remit duties on postal shipments.
For customers who have already sent ineligible parcels via India Post, refunds for postage will be provided. The ministry clarified that although CBP issued certain guidelines on August 15, key procedures, including the appointment of “qualified parties” and duty remittance systems, remain unclear. Due to this uncertainty, US-bound air carriers have declined to accept postal consignments beyond August 25, citing lack of readiness.
Other nations such as the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Denmark have also suspended US-bound postal deliveries in response to the policy change, to prevent customs complications.
