Packet mail to US held back because of Trump Tariffs.

Readers will have seen that postal authorities have taken various approaches to the Trump Tariff situation. Although the tariffs will apply differently to all nations, the US government (= president) has decided that all incoming mail may now be subject to duty and charges.

Most countries have what is known as a de minimis figure below which goods are allowed to pass without charge.  This would originally have been designed to cover personal gifts rather than trade, although small - possibly valueable - items would have slipped through, as long as they had no declared value on a customs form.

In the US the Obama administration raised the limit there from $200 to $800 (£560).  Subsequently the Chinese distirbutors Temu and others flooded the world with all manner of goods which included free shipping at a price which could not be matched in most western countries.  It was this that caused Trump in his previous administration to threaten to pull out of the UPU, which eventually led to different postage rates for mail to the USA as Royal Mail's world zone 3.

So Pres. Trump has decided to abolish the limit altogether.  Now you might think that this would hold up all the mail until US Customs had examined every item.  But the US has seen how the EU and Australia, among others, have solved this problem.  They decided that all online marketplaces (think eBay, Etsy) calculated and the sums due (with varying degrees of accuracy) and remit it to the authorities.  

In the UK companies can use a system set up by Royal Mail, but this would require everything - including postage - to be handled through their website, ie no stamps.

Up to date 

Royal Mail is working on a similar system for the current situation for mail to the US; but in the meantime goods packages are not being accepted at Post Offices*. Letters and Large Letters not requiring a customs label are still being accepted and sent to America.   (Presumably it is not possible to buy online postage for packets to the US either.)

I have already seen one report where a lady posting a birthday card was told she couldn't send it.  This is wrong!  So if you are posting a card or letter, or even sending a few stamps in an ordinary letter (which should be declared but of course many aren't) post offices should still accept it.  If you are refused, ask them to double check the instruction.

*Elsewhere
The same applies across the world.  Most European countries, South Korea, Australia and others are not sending packets to the USA.

Postal History 

When the EU changed their system Royal Mail produced a new rejecttion label shown here and alongside.  It's possible they will do something similar especially to catch mail posted in boxes.  If you find anything like this, please let me know for reporting here.

 

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