What sparked the sudden shipping freeze?
Sending a care package across the Atlantic just got a lot trickier. The U.S. has officially ended the “de minimis exemption”—a rule that allowed packages valued under $800 to enter the country duty-free.
That policy wasn’t a small perk—it was huge. In 2024 alone, 1.36 billion packages, carrying nearly $64.6 billion in goods, came into the U.S. under this exemption, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. However, since the exemption has been removed, European postal operators are taking action.
Which countries are hitting pause?
Several European nations have already announced they will stop shipping parcels to the U.S. and Puerto Rico until they get clarity on the new import rules.
- Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Italy: suspensions took effect immediately on Saturday.
- France and Austria: will pause shipments starting Monday.
- United Kingdom (Royal Mail): will stop shipments on Tuesday, citing concerns about tariffs on goods over $100—including personal gifts.
- Poste Italiane: confirmed it will suspend all parcels containing merchandise, though letters and documents will still move.
- Postnord (Nordic operator): has joined the freeze.
- Netherlands (PostNL): warns that the U.S. is imposing tariffs without having the systems ready to collect them.
The big private player, DHL, also announced it “will no longer accept or transport packages and postal items containing merchandise from commercial customers destined for the United States.”
How big are the tariffs?
The U.S.-EU trade agreement signed last month slapped a 15% tariff on most products shipped from the European Union—even those valued under $800.
For the U.K., the rules are slightly different: goods over $100 will face a 10% tariff, including gifts. That means sending a birthday package to a relative in Boston could suddenly cost much more.
Earlier in May, the U.S. ended tariff exemptions for products of Chinese origin, thereby extending the restrictions to packages worldwide.
Why the confusion?
European carriers say the U.S. government has not clarified how tariffs will be collected, what data needs to be submitted, or how it should be sent to U.S. Customs.
DHL described the situation bluntly, saying, “Key questions remain: how and who will collect customs duties in the future, what additional data will be required, and how will data be transmitted?”
Postal services argue that it’s safer to suspend shipments without answers than to risk millions of parcels becoming stuck in customs limbo.
The impact on shippers and shoppers
For businesses that rely on cross-Atlantic e-commerce—think Etsy shops, small fashion labels, or speciality food vendors—this shipping freeze could be a major headache. Online shoppers in the U.S. ordering from Europe may experience delays, higher prices, or outright cancellations.
PostNL’s spokesperson, Wout Witteveen, even issued a blunt warning: “If you have something to send to the United States, you must do it today.”
What happens next?
At this point, the suspension looks temporary, but no one knows for how long. Postal services want concrete instructions from U.S. authorities before resuming normal operations. Until then, letters, postcards, and documents will still be delivered—but if you’re hoping to send clothes, electronics, or gifts, you may be out of luck.
The bigger question remains whether the U.S. will build the systems needed to process and collect duties smoothly. Until then, European packages may be sitting on the tarmac instead of arriving at American doorsteps.
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