US Postal Service Suspensions: Air Carriers Halt Shipments Over Policy Hurdles
Postal services to the US face a temporary halt as air carriers decline shipments due to unclear American customs regulations. Only letters, documents, and gifts valued under $100 are exempt. An executive order mandates duties on goods, yet critical guidelines remain undefined, prompting operational delays.
- Country:
- India
Postal services to the United States have been temporarily suspended due to air carriers refusing to carry shipments amid unclear regulations issued by the American customs department. The Ministry of Communications confirmed this on Saturday, highlighting the operational challenges faced by carriers.
Notably, services will persist for letters, documents, and gift items valued up to USD 100, as per an Executive Order from the US administration dated July 30, 2025. This order imposes customs duties on goods above USD 100 starting August 29, 2025.
Air carriers to the US cite an inability to process shipments effectively, owing to the lack of clarity in key processes such as the identification of 'qualified parties' and mechanisms for duty collection, outlined in the CBP's 15th August 2025 guidelines. As a result, the Department of Posts has decided to halt bookings for all postal articles to the US, except the exempt categories.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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