European postal operators halt US parcel shipments over tax uncertainty
Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Several European postal operators are suspending parcel deliveries to the United States, citing uncertainty and higher costs under President Donald Trump's new trade regime.
Belgium's leading postal operator Bpost said on Wednesday that it would temporarily stop accepting parcels bound for the US from 29 August, when Washington ends the long-standing 'de minimis' exemption which allowed goods worth less €690 to enter duty-free. To protect its customers, Thursday, 21 August, is the last day a parcel can be sent to the US, Bpost says.
"We send fewer than 100,000 parcels to the States each year. By comparison, Bpost sends 500,000 parcels every day," Bpost spokesperson Mathieu Goedefroy told local Belgian news media HBVL.
The Norwegian postal service Bring and Postnord which operates in Denmark and Sweden, too, confirmed on Wednesday they would halt shipments to the US. The suspension will hit both private customers and European e-commerce businesses reliant on affordable cross-Atlantic shipping.
The decision has been taken as companies are scrambling to understand what replaces the 'de minimis' exemption.
"The details surrounding have not yet been clarified by the US customs authorities, nor have any system solutions been developed that postal companies can use," Bring writes in their press release.
Private couriers such as DHL and UPS are expected to continue service but anticipate profit losses. DHL has warned that scrapping the low-value exemption could shave up to €198 million – or 3.3% – off its annual operating profit, according to online outlet FreightWaves that reports on the global freight market.
The disruption comes at a time of heightened transatlantic trade tensions. In July, Brussels and Washington struck a deal imposing a 15% flat tariff on most European goods, adding to a wave of tariff and subsidy disputes.
(vib)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euractiv
6 hours ago
- Euractiv
EU-US deal seals 15% tariffs on pharma industry, exempts generics
Brenda Strohmaier Euractiv Aug 21, 2025 15:05 3 min. read News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Want to keep reading? Get a subscription on Euractiv Pro and elevate your political insight! Discover Euractiv Pro For corporations Already have an account? Log in
Euractiv
6 hours ago
- Euractiv
Defence not exempt from Trump tariff pain
Today's joint framework on an EU-US deal over tariffs remains as vague as it was when the original announcement was made in July, but the Commission has confirmed there will be no blanket exemption for defence equipment. US President Donald Trump said at the end of July that the EU would buy 'vast amounts' of defence equipment as part of a trade deal. The announcement raised eyebrows in a Europe looking to reduce its dependence on American defence companies, and left Europe's defence industry wondering how exactly the tariffs will impact the sector. 'Defence equipment will not be excluded from the US tariffs,' a senior EU official told the media on Thursday, but added that more tariff 'carve-outs' are expected since the US is interested in 'certain weapon systems' and semiconductors. The joint framework caps US tariffs on European goods at 15%, but includes exemptions for specific goods, including aircraft and aircraft parts. Tariffs on cars and car parts will also fall from 27.5% to 15%, but only once the Commission has presented a proposal to lift tariffs on US industrial goods. Both sides plan to cooperate on steel and aluminium overcapacity. So far, all of this matches the announcement made in July. The joint framework also confirms in writing Trump's earlier claim about EU spending on American military equipment. 'The European Union plans to substantially increase procurement of military and defence equipment from the United States, with the support and facilitation of the US government', reads the statement. However, there are no details on this promise because the European Commission, which negotiated the tariffs, has no authority over the arms procurement of EU countries, as it is a longstanding matter of national sovereignty. A different EU official stated that this increase 'is certainly not for the Commission to enforce, but it is something that we have discussed in detail with our member states and therefore we were able to frame it as such in the joint statement.' The official added that the text does not specify any amount, keeping the pledge to increase defence and military expenditure generic. (cp)
Euractiv
8 hours ago
- Euractiv
EU fails to secure US tariff exemption for wine and spirits
The European Commission did not succeed in securing an exemption for wine and spirits from the 15% tariff imposed by the US on the bloc's exports, but negotiations are still ongoing, EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič assured. In 2024, transatlantic exports of wine and spirits totalled around €9 billion, with €4.9 billion accounted for by wine alone – making the US the largest market for EU alcoholic beverages. Both sectors have long lobbied for exclusion from the new duties introduced in the July EU-US agreement. Presenting the joint statement, Šefčovič acknowledged that negotiators 'didn't succeed' in securing an exemption. 'I just would like to add one very important word and this is 'yet',' the Commissioner said, stressing that his team 'will be looking at different ways how we can address this issue,' hinting that talks will continue. 'I don't want to say it will be easy, and I don't want to offer false promises,' he added cautiously. France has also expressed hope that the exemption could still be negotiated. "The agreement leaves open the possibility of additional exemptions, and we will work on this," French Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin posted on X. Producers brace for impact In the meantime, EU producers are preparing for significant losses. "This is a blow to the most exposed sector among the top 10 categories of Italian products destined for the US, accounting for 24% of total global exports and worth around €2 billion per year", the Union of Italian Wines warned in a statement. 'We are hugely disappointed,' the president of the French Federation of Wine and Spirits Exporters Gabriel Picard told the national press, echoed by the European spirits sector through its industry group SpiritsEUROPE. The outcome represents a 'missed opportunity' to demonstrate the EU's commitment to fair and reciprocal trade, said Hervé Dumesny, Director General of SpiritsEUROPE. The sector is now urging negotiators to keep talks alive. What's in for agriculture As announced, the joint statement states that the EU will "provide preferential market access for a wide range of US seafood and agricultural goods". However, senior EU officials told the press on Thursday that the bloc will not provide any preferential access for US products in "sensitive sectors" such as poultry, beef, sugar and ethanol. "For now, the Commission failed to defend EU agri-food offensive interests," the agricultural think tank Farm Europe stated, concluding that "if this is the starting point for future, more sensible negotiations, EU agriculture is starting many steps behind". Angelo Di Mambro contributed to reporting (adm, cs)
