by InTrieste
Several European countries, including Italy, France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom, have temporarily suspended parcel deliveries to the United States in response to new U.S. import regulations.
Italy’s national postal service, Poste Italiane, announced that it will stop accepting packages bound for the United States beginning August 23. The suspension comes ahead of the implementation of tariffs on goods valued at less than $800, a category that previously fell under a long-standing exemption.
The change follows an executive order signed last month by President Donald J. Trump that ends the so-called “de minimis” exemption for low-value imports, effective August 29. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 1.36 billion packages entered the United States under the exemption in 2024.
In a statement on its website, Poste Italiane said it was working to identify “suitable solutions” but noted that the U.S. only released technical guidance on August 15, leaving postal operators with little time to adjust.
“In the absence of different instructions from U.S. authorities and/or exceptions to the above-mentioned deadlines, Poste Italiane will be forced, like other European postal operators, to temporarily suspend the acceptance of all shipments containing goods destined for the United States,” the company said.
The suspension does not apply to regular letters or to Poste Delivery International Express, which uses a separate logistics process. “Mail shipments not containing goods will continue to be accepted,” the company said, adding that customers would be updated as the situation evolves.
The disruption underscores the widespread uncertainty over how postal services worldwide will adapt to the U.S. policy shift, which affects both businesses and individuals who rely on low-cost international shipping.
