The US Postal Service (USPS) has announced a temporary suspension of parcel acceptance from mainland China and Hong Kong as of February 5, 2025. The USPS stated that this suspension will remain in effect “until further notice,” but letters will continue to be accepted without interruption.
- USPS suspends parcels from China and Hong Kong.
- Letters remain unaffected by the suspension.
- Suspension in place until further notice.
- Trump's tariff increases impact Chinese imports.
- De minimis tax loophole faces scrutiny.
- Half of de minimis parcels from China.
The suspension by the USPS follows an executive order from President Donald Trump that increased tariffs on all goods imported from China. This order eliminated the de minimis exemption, which allowed goods valued at $800 or less to enter the US without duties. The move is part of broader scrutiny over e-commerce shipments from China, which have surged in recent years.
Key points regarding the suspension include:
- The USPS has not provided a specific reason for the suspension.
- Approximately half of all parcels entering the US under the de minimis rule originated from China, according to a 2023 report.
- US officials have raised concerns about the challenges in screening these parcels for illegal goods.
Trade expert Deborah Elms noted that the tariff changes significantly impact goods previously shipped directly from China to the US via e-commerce. This development comes as President Trump is expected to engage in discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the near future.
The USPS’s decision to suspend parcel acceptance from China and Hong Kong reflects ongoing tensions in US-China trade relations and aims to address concerns over the volume of unregulated goods entering the country.
