Postal Services to the US Temporarily Halted Due to New Rules
New Delhi: The Indian government has announced a temporary suspension of postal services to the United States. This decision comes as US air carriers have opted not to transport shipments because of unclear new customs regulations from American authorities.
However, the Ministry of Communications confirmed that certain items, such as letters, documents, and gifts valued under $100, will still be accepted and sent to the US. This exception will remain in place until further details are provided by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the United States Postal Service (USPS).
A recent Executive Order from the US, effective August 29, 2025, states that items valued over $100 will incur customs duties upon arrival in the country. Under this order, carriers who ship via international postal networks or other approved parties are required to collect and remit these duties.
Despite CBP issuing some initial guidelines on August 15, 2025, many important aspects, such as the identification of qualified parties and duty collection methods, are still not firmly established. As a result, air carriers bound for the US have stated they cannot accept postal shipments after August 25 due to a lack of preparedness.
In light of this situation, the Department of Posts has decided to suspend all postal item bookings for the US starting Monday, while still allowing letters, documents, and gifts valued under $100.
The Postal Department is actively monitoring the situation and working closely with involved parties to restore services as soon as possible. They also mentioned that customers who have sent items that cannot be delivered due to this issue can request a refund for their postage. The Department expressed regret for any inconvenience caused and is committed to resuming full services swiftly.
According to US regulations, all international postal items sent to the US will now be subject to customs duties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
