European postal services suspend shipment of packages to US over import tariffs

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 2:38 PM EDT, August 23, 2025


ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The end of an exemption on tariff duties for low-value packages coming into the United States is causing multiple international postal services to pause shipping as they await more clarity on the rule.

The exemption, known as the “ de minimis” exemption, allows packages worth less than $800 to come into the U.S. duty free. A total of 1.36 billion packages were sent in 2024 under this exemption, for goods worth $64.6 billion, according to data from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agency.

It is set to expire on Friday. On Saturday, postal services around Europe announced that they are suspending the shipment of many packages to the United States amid confusion over new import duties.

Postal services in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Italy said they will stop shipping most merchandise to the U.S. effective immediately. France and Austria will follow on Monday. The U.K.'s Royal Mail said it would halt shipments to the U.S. on Tuesday to allow time for those packages to arrive before duties kick in. Items originating in the United Kingdom worth over $100 — including gifts to friends and family — will incur a 10% duty, it said.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/us-tariffs-goods-services-suspension-85c7b36b9e92c0e640dfe2ac418cd907

[Jim__]

1. Trump: ready, fire, aim. One more time.

[wolfie001]

11. Circular firing squad of MAGA bootlickers and ass-kissers

Disgusting repuke pigs.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. I found a couple items online this week

that I meant to buy for months, on eBay, and when they were listed they were coming from China. NOW, they are US located, and priced to move, so I'm thinking some distributors stateside loaded up to beat the tariffs and are loaded with inventory.

de minimis enforcement might just sink eBay for good. Not only for foreign goods but because consumers go elsewhere for all items.

Benefit to Amazon. Bezos and Trump.

[customerserviceguy]

5. eBay will always be relevant

for people looking to sell excess things, or to buy things cheaply. It's a bastardization of the original purpose of eBay to have it become the outlet store for China.

[bucolic_frolic]

7. Well it is becoming the outlet store of outlet stores in the US

Their focus is on large sellers. Small sellers are leaving, buyers don't trust them and they don't trust buyers. eBay wants to sell higher ticket items, remanufactured, refurbs, factory outlet. The number of users is shrinking even as profits continue to rise. But the writings on the wall and it will be a different site 5 years from now.

[customerserviceguy]

17. Interesting

I haven't kept up on what's happening with them overall, but I just know that it's been a good place for me to find oddball items, like parts for an older computer, or coins for my Canadian collection. For those things, it pretty much feels the way that it did when I siged up years ago.

[cstanleytech]

9. Amazon is pretty dependent on China though so it might not be as much of a benefit.

[IbogaProject]

3. Actually Ebay can be searched US only

I only buy US, unless i could wait for good price discount or no other choice.

Jeff Bozo's Amazon & Walmart dont really have that as clear, you have to guess by shipping windows.

[CrispyQ]

4. Oh boo. There's an Etsy shop in France I like.

I think she has a number of US customers.

[catchnrelease]

14. Same

I've followed several fiber art vendors on Etsy and I think all of them have now said they have to stop shipping to the US, at least for the time being. It's a shame as some of the best supplies are only found in Europe. It's hurting both the vendors there and the artists here.

[SouthBayDem]

6. India is making a similar move

The department of posts on Saturday announced a temporary suspension of most international postal services to the United States, effective August 25, 2025, in response to major regulatory changes introduced by the US that impact the international shipping of goods.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/india-temporarily-suspends-most-postal-services-to-us-effective-august-25-amid-new-customs-order-know-whats-exempt-from-the-ban/articleshow/123469936.cms

[Lovie777]

8. Damn....

shithole and comrades plus isolation……

Sounds like the early 20th century.

[delisen]

10. So now I pay a Trump Tax on gifts from European friends. He raised my taxes.

Bring back Biden and a Democratic led Congress.

[Mawspam2]

12. Can't pay a Trump Tax if it never arrives.

[Martin68]

13. Trump thrives on chaos in the political sphere, but economic chaos will not help him. It will destroy him.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

15. Heckuva job Trumpy

[maxrandb]

16. Who frickin pays the duty???

The shipper? Receiver? USPS? My mailman? 3rd party shipper like Amazon, Ebay, UPS, FEDEX?

If I gift my friend a case of Tentura from Greece, do I collect it when he opens the package?

What a fucking goat-rope!