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BumRushDaShow

(158,626 posts)
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 03:43 PM Saturday

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

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

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
European postal services suspend shipment of packages to US over import tariffs (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Saturday OP
Trump: ready, fire, aim. One more time. Jim__ Saturday #1
Circular firing squad of MAGA bootlickers and ass-kissers wolfie001 Saturday #11
I found a couple items online this week bucolic_frolic Saturday #2
eBay will always be relevant customerserviceguy Saturday #5
Well it is becoming the outlet store of outlet stores in the US bucolic_frolic Saturday #7
Interesting customerserviceguy 14 hrs ago #17
Amazon is pretty dependent on China though so it might not be as much of a benefit. cstanleytech Saturday #9
Actually Ebay can be searched US only IbogaProject Saturday #3
Oh boo. There's an Etsy shop in France I like. CrispyQ Saturday #4
Same catchnrelease Saturday #14
India is making a similar move SouthBayDem Saturday #6
Damn.... Lovie777 Saturday #8
So now I pay a Trump Tax on gifts from European friends. He raised my taxes. delisen Saturday #10
Can't pay a Trump Tax if it never arrives. Mawspam2 Saturday #12
Trump thrives on chaos in the political sphere, but economic chaos will not help him. It will destroy him. Martin68 Saturday #13
Heckuva job Trumpy Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin 17 hrs ago #15
Who frickin pays the duty??? maxrandb 16 hrs ago #16

bucolic_frolic

(52,013 posts)
2. I found a couple items online this week
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 03:48 PM
Saturday

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

(25,367 posts)
5. eBay will always be relevant
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 04:07 PM
Saturday

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

(52,013 posts)
7. Well it is becoming the outlet store of outlet stores in the US
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 04:30 PM
Saturday

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

(25,367 posts)
17. Interesting
Sun Aug 24, 2025, 05:16 PM
14 hrs ago

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.

IbogaProject

(4,828 posts)
3. Actually Ebay can be searched US only
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 03:59 PM
Saturday

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.

catchnrelease

(2,097 posts)
14. Same
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 11:28 PM
Saturday

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

(32,886 posts)
6. India is making a similar move
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 04:18 PM
Saturday
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

delisen

(7,125 posts)
10. So now I pay a Trump Tax on gifts from European friends. He raised my taxes.
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 07:01 PM
Saturday

Bring back Biden and a Democratic led Congress.

Martin68

(26,325 posts)
13. Trump thrives on chaos in the political sphere, but economic chaos will not help him. It will destroy him.
Sat Aug 23, 2025, 10:25 PM
Saturday

maxrandb

(16,752 posts)
16. Who frickin pays the duty???
Sun Aug 24, 2025, 03:41 PM
16 hrs ago

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!

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