() Americans who have ordered items from overseas may find themselves out of luck as global shipping services pause some shipments to the U.S.
An expanding tally of at least 25 nations has revealed they will cease sending certain small parcels to the U.S. as the “de minimis” tariff exemption is slated to conclude tomorrow.
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump enacted an order to terminate the de minimis rule. This policy allowed shipments valued under $800 to bypass duties or tariffs.
It’s a rule that individual consumers and small businesses rely on to buy items from overseas, often at a much lower cost than in the U.S.
The exception was already revoked for China, causing budget retailers such as Shein and Temu to frantically adapt their distribution strategies and increase costs for consumers.
With the rule’s global end nearing, numerous countries are halting shipments while they determine how to manage the transition.
Individuals who have already placed orders with international companies might face disappointment, as carriers are pausing packages yet to be dispatched due to uncertainty about their arrival before Friday.
The list of countries includes Japan, Australia, Mexico and almost the entirety of Europe.
Letters and personal packages will still be allowed, though the maximum value of personal packages allowed varies by country.
Companies like FedEx in international shipping are endeavoring to bridge the gap, and it’s probable that many countries will ultimately restart shipments to the U.S.
However, it’s likely that those shipments will become much more expensive, with the tariffs hitting American consumers and small businesses with added costs.
