• Postal traffic to the US has fallen over 80% due to new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
• 88 postal operators globally have suspended services to the US, affecting mail deliveries significantly.
• The Universal Postal Union is developing solutions to restore postal services back to normal.

Postal traffic to the United States has plunged by more than 80% following the Trump administration's suspension of the "de minimis" exemption for low-value imports. According to the Universal Postal Union (UPU), this drastic drop occurred after August 29, with 88 postal operators worldwide suspending their services either partially or fully, primarily affecting mail traffic from countries like Australia, Britain, France, Germany, India, Italy, and Japan. UPU Director General Masahiko Metoki emphasized the need for "the rapid development of a new technical solution to get mail moving to the United States again" according to Le Monde, India Times, South China Morning Post, CBS News, Los Angeles Times, Channel News Asia, NPR, and The Hill.

The UPU reported that the newly implemented rules have created significant operational challenges, as the responsibility for collecting customs duties has shifted to carriers and qualified parties approved by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Many operators reported they were "unwilling or unable" to take on this new burden, leading to disruptions in service according to Le Monde, India Times, South China Morning Post, and NPR.

To counter these disruptions, the UPU is developing a "Delivered Duty Paid" system that will allow postal operators to calculate and collect necessary duties from customers at the point of origin. The UPU is also providing a temporary customs calculator accessible to members, which can help facilitate the necessary calculations needed for compliance as global postal services adapt to the new regime according to Le Monde, Los Angeles Times, Channel News Asia, and The Hill.