Why 20+ countries just froze shipping to the U.S. (and what it means for you)

Several postal services around the world have paused package deliveries to the United States this week, and it’s not because they’re overwhelmed with shipping demand. The suspensions, which affect shipments of goods valued under $800, follow a recent executive order that President Trump signed that effectively ends the de minimis exemption on August 29.

The fallout has been swift and global. We’re talking about major disruptions from Europe to Asia that might impact many American small businesses, limit where you can shop, and make it more complicated and expensive to receive the items you order.

What countries have limited deliveries, and why

Postal services in countries like Germany, Japan, France and Australia have announced service suspensions until further notice. Most suspensions cited logistical challenges and uncertainty over the U.S.’s tariff policies after the elimination of the de minimis exemption.

Japan Post announced it will temporarily suspend deliveries of small packages with values exceeding $100 to the U.S. starting Wednesday, while Australia Post said it will “temporarily partially suspend postal services to the United States and Puerto Rico, effective August 26, 2025, until further notice”.

European postal services aren’t sitting this one out either. 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, and the United Kingdom on Tuesday.

As of August 28, 2025, these countries have suspended package shipments to the U.S. The situation changes daily, so double-check with the appropriate postal services before attempting to ship or receive packages.

What is de minimis?

The de minimis exemption is basically a free pass for small packages. Since 1938, any package you receive from overseas that’s valued under a certain limit gets to skip customs fees and import taxes when it arrives in the U.S. That limit has been $800 since 2016.

The $800 threshold made it quite easy and cheap to buy things from overseas sellers, which explains why sites like Temu, Shein and even international sellers on Etsy and Amazon became so popular with American shoppers.

This rule turned into a massive source of demand over the past decade. In 2015, about 134 million packages came into the U.S. under this exemption. By 2024, that number exploded to over 1.36 billion packages.

Why countries are pulling the plug

The Trump administration wants to close what it calls a loophole in the U.S. duties and customs system.

But postal services worldwide say they’re scrambling to figure out how this will actually work. Key questions remain unresolved, particularly regarding how and by whom customs duties will be collected in the future, what additional data will be required, and how the data transmission to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be carried out.

For example, France’s national postal service, La Poste, said the U.S. didn’t provide full details or allow enough time for the French postal service to prepare for new customs procedures.

Postal services may need new software systems, updated forms, staff training and agreements with customs authorities and shipping companies. All of this can take months to set up, but they only got about four weeks after President Trump’s executive order on July 30.

How long will these suspensions last?

Most postal services are calling these suspensions “temporary” while they figure out the new rules. The U.K.’s Royal Mail said it would halt U.S. shipments on Tuesday to allow time for those packages to arrive before duties kick in. Germany’s DHL is taking a cautious approach, suggesting the pause could last longer until it figures out the technical details.

The good news is that postal services worldwide are working to restore normal operations as quickly as possible.

What is still working?

• Commercial express services. Companies like DHL Express, FedEx and UPS are still shipping to the U.S., but they’ll calculate and collect the new tariffs for you.

• Personal gifts under $100. If someone sends you a birthday present or holiday gift worth less than $100, and it’s clearly marked as a gift between individuals, it still gets through duty-free.

• Traveler exemptions. When you travel abroad and come back, you can still bring up to $200 worth of personal items without paying duties.

• Letters and documents. Regular mail, postcards, business documents and anything that doesn’t contain actual goods flows through normally. The postal disruptions only affect packages with merchandise.

Learn more: Online shopping is about to get more expensive — 10 simple workarounds

What the de minimis elimination and suspensions mean for your money

The financial impact hits in two places: higher costs and fewer shopping options.

According to President Trump’s executive order, individuals and businesses may face an $80 per item charge for a country with a tariff rate less than 16%, or costs as high as $160 per item for a country with a tariff rate of between 16% and 25% and $200 per item for a country with a tariff rate above 25%.

Let’s break that down. Say you’re buying a $50 sweater from a UK-based Etsy shop. Under the old system, you’d pay $50 plus shipping. Now, you might pay $50 plus $200 in tariff fees plus shipping, based on the current tariff rate for the U.K. That sweater just became a lot less appealing.

That’s why several Etsy sellers announced that they plan to halt sales to U.S. customers altogether.

​​Learn more: New tariffs could cost your family $2,000 a year — here’s how to soften the blow

How to minimize the financial impact of tariffs

Here are five practical steps you can take to protect your wallet:

• Budget for higher costs. If you regularly buy from international sellers, plan for tariff costs to impact your spending. Those $20 accessories from overseas might not be the deals they once were.

• Maximize your credit card rewards. Use cashback credit cards to offset higher costs. Many cards offer bonus categories for groceries, gas and online shopping that could help cushion the blow. Stack that on top of cashback apps to increase what you earn.

• Shop domestic when possible. This disruption creates opportunities for U.S.-based businesses to compete on price again. Consider shifting your shopping habits to American retailers and small businesses.

• Review your monthly subscriptions. Many subscription boxes source products internationally. Expect price increases or service changes in the coming months. Now is a good time to audit which subscriptions you actually use.

• Build a stronger foundation for your savings. Supply chain disruptions and higher costs for imported goods could push up prices across the board. Having extra cash on hand helps you weather unexpected expenses. Move your savings to a high-yield savings account that can help you stay ahead of rising costs.

Learn more: 5 popular budgeting strategies — and how to find the best fit for how you save

More stories about tariffs and personal finance

• Best free and low-cost budgeting apps

• How to open a high-yield savings account

• How much should you keep in a checking account?

• Top banking mistakes that could be costing you money

• Common bank fees — and how to avoid them

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