Belgium’s national postal company, bpost, has announced the temporary suspension of all shipments of goods to the United States, effective 23 August, citing challenges linked to upcoming changes in US import tax regulations.
The suspension applies to all packages and letters containing goods sent from Belgium to the US, though regular letters remain unaffected. The decision follows a US executive order that ends the tax exemption, or so-called “De minimis” treatment, for imported goods valued below $800.
The new rules will take effect on 29 August, but postal services say they have not received sufficient clarity from American authorities to implement the changes in time.
Laura Cerrada Crespo, spokesperson for bpost, explained the reasoning behind the decision: “That’s why we are suspending the services because we don’t want people to send goods or gifts and then for it to be blocked [in the US] or for them to be asked to pay something else.”
According to bpost, American authorities only shared some of the new technical requirements on 15 August, leaving little time for European postal companies to adapt. The lack of clear instructions on “critical issues” such as customs duty collection further complicated the situation.
Bpost confirmed that the suspension is temporary, but could not provide a timeline for when services will resume. The company said it is working with international partners to “develop a solution as quickly as possible” to restore shipments.
The disruption is not limited to Belgium. Earlier this week, PostNord, which operates in Denmark and Sweden, and Estonia’s Omniva also announced similar suspensions of shipments to the US.
The European postal service trade association, PostEurop, has warned that more national operators may follow suit if clarity is not provided soon. The decision is likely to affect small businesses in particular, many of which rely on postal services for cross-border e-commerce.
The Flemish business association Voka said it is closely monitoring the developments. “We’re hoping this situation is only temporary,” Voka spokesperson Eric Laureys noted, adding that companies are assessing alternative delivery options.
The US government’s move to end De minimis treatment for imports under $800 marks a significant policy shift. For years, the exemption has allowed small packages from abroad to enter the US without import duties, benefiting consumers and exporters alike.
The change is expected to increase customs revenue and address complaints from domestic retailers about unfair competition, but it poses logistical and cost challenges for foreign postal and delivery services.
With businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic awaiting clarity, postal operators are under pressure to adapt quickly. For now, Belgian customers are advised not to send goods to the US until further notice.
The uncertainty has cast a shadow over transatlantic shipping, and unless solutions are reached soon, experts warn of significant ripple effects on trade, logistics, and consumer confidence across Europe.
