Australia suspended some postal deliveries to the United States due to the 'complex and rapidly evolving situation' which is emerging amid the US President's decision to impose tariffs.

The postal company said it was a temporary partial suspension decision, which will be effective from August 26 and will continue until further notice.

"Australia Post has taken this action in response to recent significant changes the US Government has made to customs and import tariff rules for parcels sent to the US. Changes include the US suspending the De Minimis exemption for inbound goods (below USD$800) and requiring the pre-payment of tariffs prior to an item’s arrival in the US," the postal service said in a statement.

The temporary suspension will impact Business Contract, MyPost Business and Retail customers sending goods through the postal network.

Also read: India temporarily suspends postal services to US, check out the exceptions

Gifts under USD$100, letters and documents are unaffected by this change. This response is in-line with action taken by numerous other postal operators globally.

Australia Post said it is working with Zonos, an authorised US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) third-party provider, to offer a solution that will, once launched, allow services to resume for Business Contract and My Post Business customers.

"These customers will receive communications from Australia Post on what they need to do next to be ready for when this solution goes live," the statement said.

Australia Post Executive General Manager, Parcel, Post & eCommerce Services, Gary Starr said: “Australia Post is focused on providing a reliable and competitive postal service for customers sending parcels internationally. Guidance from CBP has only recently been issued and, like more than 190 other postal providers, we’ve been working at pace to find a solution.

“We are disappointed we have had to take this action, however, due to the complex and rapidly evolving situation, a temporary partial suspension has been necessary to allow us to develop and implement a workable solution for our customers," Starr said.

“Australia Post continues to work with US and Australian authorities and international postal partners to resume postal service to the US as a priority," Starr said.

The temporary partial suspension also includes postal sending to Puerto Rico, as it is under US Customs territory and has also been impacted by these tariff changes.

Postal goods sent to the US and Puerto Rico lodged on or after 26 August 2025 will not be accepted by Australia Post until further notice.

India temporarily suspends postal services to US

The Indian Department of Posts on Saturday said that the postal services in the US are being temporarily suspended, barring a few exceptions.

"The Department of Posts has taken note of the Executive Order No. 14324 issued by the U.S. Administration on 30th July, 2025, under which the duty-free de minimis exemption for goods valued up to USD 800 will be withdrawn with effect from 29th August, 2025," read a statement issued by the Indian government.

The Ministry of Communication said all international postal items destined for the USA, regardless of their value, shall be subject to customs duties as per the country-specific International Emergency Economic Power Act (IEEPA) tariff framework.

Certain gift items remain an exception

Gift items up to the value of USD 100 shall continue to remain exempt from duties, the Ministry said.

As per the Executive Order, transport carriers delivering shipments through the international postal network, or other “qualified parties” approved by the U.S.

"Customs and Border Protection (CBP), are required to collect and remit duties on postal shipments," the statement said.

While CBP issued certain guidelines on 15th August, 2025, several critical processes relating to the designation of “qualified parties” and mechanisms for duty collection and remittance remain undefined.

Consequently, U.S.-bound air carriers have expressed their inability to accept postal consignments after August 25, 2025, citing lack of operational and technical readiness.

The French and German postal services have announced similar restrictions on package deliveries to the US amid tariffs imposed by the President Donald Trump-led government.