Mexico has suspended all postal shipments to the United States, citing uncertainty over new tariff rules that end a long-standing exemption for low-value packages. South Korea’s national postal service, Korea Post, has also stopped most shipments, beginning Aug. 25, officials and postal industry sources said.
Mexico’s postal service, Correos de Mexico, halted deliveries on Aug. 27 – just days before Washington ended the “de minimis” exemption, which had allowed parcels valued at $800 or less to enter the U.S. duty-free. Last year, more than 1.3 billion packages worth nearly $65 billion entered the country under the rule, according to trade data.
The exemption’s removal, effective Aug. 29, is part of a broader crackdown by the Trump administration, which argues the system was exploited for trafficking and smuggling. The new rules require tariffs of 10% to 50%, or flat fees of $80 to $200 per package. However, postal operators say they have received little guidance on how to process shipments.
“Until procedures are clear, it is not possible to guarantee service,” Correos de Mexico said in a statement, adding it was in talks with U.S. authorities and the Universal Postal Union.
South Korea has joined a growing list of countries, including Australia, Japan, and several European nations, that have restricted U.S.-bound deliveries in recent weeks.
Analysts warn of widespread disruption as the policy shift ripples across global trade. Consumers may face higher costs and longer delays for gifts and online orders. Small businesses that depend on cross-border e-commerce risk losing access to the American market.
Nearly 30 countries have partially or fully halted shipments to the United States since late August, underscoring the international fallout from Washington’s new approach to tariffs.