Postal traffic to the United States has decreased by more than 80% following the Trump administration's decision to end a tariff exemption for low-cost imports, according to the United Nations postal agency. The Universal Postal Union (UPU) reported that it is implementing new measures to assist postal operators worldwide in calculating and collecting duties after the U.S. eliminated the "de minimis exemption" for parcels valued at $800 or less.

As a result of this change, 88 postal operators have informed the UPU that they have suspended some or all services to the U.S. until a resolution is reached regarding U.S.-bound parcels. The UPU stated that postal traffic from its 192 member countries fell by 81% on August 29, 2025, compared to the previous week. This significant drop occurred after new rules took effect that shifted the responsibility for customs duty collection to transportation carriers or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)-approved parties.

The UPU noted that "major operational disruptions" have arisen because airlines and other carriers are unwilling or unable to collect these duties. Additionally, foreign postal operators have not established connections with CBP-qualified companies. The number of low-value parcels entering the U.S. has surged over the past decade, increasing from 134 million shipments per year in 2015 to approximately 1.4 billion in 2025. U.S. Customs and Border Protection was processing over 4 million "de minimis" shipments daily before the new rules were enacted.

Prior to the implementation of the new measures, the UPU expressed concerns in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the potential impact of the changes. The de minimis exemption, which has been in place since 1938, was designed to facilitate trade by removing the administrative burden of collecting small import duties on low-cost goods. Now, purchases that previously entered the U.S. without customs clearance will require vetting and will be subject to tariffs ranging from 10% to 50%, depending on the country of origin.

While these changes affect products from all countries, U.S. residents will still be exempt from duties on gifts valued up to $100 and on personal souvenirs worth up to $200 from international trips, as stated by the White House. The UPU has indicated that its members were not provided sufficient time or guidance to comply with the new procedures outlined in the executive order signed by President Trump on July 30.