(This article appeared in the November/December 2025 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine)
International mail volume into the United States collapsed by 80% on Aug. 29 when the Trump administration imposed tariffs on low-cost imports previously exempt under the “de minimis” rule. This exemption allowed packages valued under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free. The decline in international package volume is affecting millions of daily shipments that postal workers would normally process.
Additionally, airlines and shippers were unable to rapidly calulate duties on millions of small packages, bringing international mail to a near standstill. While the Universal Postal Union has introduced a digital tool to help, 88 global postal operators have suspended or restricted U.S. services, directly impacting our members’ work.
The administration claims this policy curtails drug shipments and counterfeit goods, but it is keeping millions of packages from reaching American small businesses, working families, and those who rely on home delivery each day. The policy may also undermine the projected $10 billion in tariff revenue the administration promised, and is affecting revenue for the Postal Service.
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