A United Nations agency responsible for the postal sector says 25 of its member states have suspended goods consignments to the United States amid uncertainty after US President Donald Trump’s administration scrapped a customs tax rule that exempted small packages from duty.
The Universal Postal Union, a Switzerland-based agency promoting co-operation between postal services of its 192 member countries, said it conveyed their concerns about disruption in a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on August 25.
It did not name the countries although Australia, Norway, Switzerland and others have already announced suspensions publicly.
The news comes after the US administration said last month it would suspend the global “de minimis” exemption, which also allows minimal paperwork, for international shipments under $US800 ($A1,230), effective August 29.
Low-value imports are losing their duty-free status in the United States as part of Trump’s agenda for making the country less dependent on foreign goods and resetting global trade with tariffs.
Purchases that previously entered the US without needing to clear customs will require vetting and be subject to their origin country’s applicable tariff rate, which can range from 10 per cent to 50 per cent.
For the next six months, US carriers handling orders sent through the global mail network also can choose a flat duty of $US80 to $US200 per package instead of the value-based rate.
with AP
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