New Delhi: The Department of Posts (DoP) announced on Saturday that it will temporarily suspend the booking of all types of postal items destined for the United States, effective August 25.
The suspension does not apply to letters, documents, and gift items valued up to $100, which will continue to be accepted and delivered, subject to further guidance from the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the United States Postal Service (USPS), the Ministry of Communications said in a statement.
“The Department is closely monitoring the evolving situation in coordination with all stakeholders and is making every effort to restore normal services as soon as possible,” the statement added.
The decision comes in response to the US Administration’s Executive Order issued on July 30, 2025, which withdraws the duty-free de minimis exemption for goods valued up to $800, effective August 29, 2025. As a result, all international postal shipments to the US, regardless of their value, will be subject to customs duties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariff framework. Gift items valued up to $100 will remain exempt.
Under the Executive Order, transport carriers or other “qualified parties” approved by CBP are required to collect and remit duties on postal shipments. While CBP released certain guidelines on August 15, 2025, key processes regarding the designation of “qualified parties” and mechanisms for duty collection are still undefined.
Due to these operational uncertainties, US-bound air carriers have indicated they cannot accept postal consignments after August 25, 2025.
“Customers who have already booked items that cannot be dispatched to the US under these circumstances may request a refund of postage. The Department of Posts sincerely regrets the inconvenience caused and assures that all possible measures are being taken to resume full services to the US at the earliest,” the Ministry stated.
