India Suspends Postal Services to the U.S. Following New Customs Order
New Delhi, August 23, 2025 – The Department of Posts (DoP), Government of India, has announced the temporary suspension of postal services to the United States of America, following changes in U.S. customs regulations that take effect later this month.
The decision comes after the U.S. Administration issued Executive Order No. 14324 on July 30, 2025, withdrawing the duty-free exemption for goods valued up to USD 800. Under the new framework, all postal items bound for the U.S. – regardless of their declared value – will now attract customs duties as per the International Emergency Economic Power Act (IEEPA). The only exception is for gift consignments up to USD 100, which will continue to remain duty-free.
In addition, the new order mandates that transport carriers or other “qualified parties” designated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) must collect and remit duties on postal shipments. While CBP issued preliminary guidelines on August 15, 2025, key mechanisms for designating such parties and setting up duty collection processes remain unclear. As a result, several U.S.-bound air carriers have expressed their inability to carry Indian postal consignments beyond August 25, 2025, citing operational and technical challenges.
In response, the Department of Posts announced that it will suspend booking of all categories of postal articles to the U.S. with effect from August 25, 2025, except for letters, documents, and gift items valued up to USD 100.
“The Department is closely monitoring the evolving situation in coordination with all stakeholders, and every effort is being made to normalize services at the earliest possible opportunity,” said L.K. Dash, Deputy Director General (IR&GB), Department of Posts.
Customers who have already booked parcels that cannot now be dispatched may apply for a refund of postage.
The Department of Posts has expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and reassured customers that efforts are underway to restore full postal services to the U.S. as soon as possible.
No comments