Breaking : Australia Post Halts Some U.S. Parcel Deliveries Amid Tariff Shake-Up

Aug 26, 2025

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Australia Post has temporarily suspended some international parcel services to the United States and Puerto Rico after Washington introduced sweeping changes to its import tariff rules, the postal service announced Tuesday.

The suspension, which took effect Aug. 26, affects parcels but does not apply to letters, documents of no commercial value, or gifts valued under $100, Australia Post said in a statement.

“The United States recently announced significant changes to its import tariff rules that will impact customers sending items from Australia to the U.S. and Puerto Rico,” the agency said. “From Tuesday 26 August 2025, Australia Post is temporarily partially suspending international parcel services to the U.S. due to the recently introduced changes.”

The new measures will require senders to provide detailed customs information on every item, including the country of origin, the exact value, and a harmonized tariff code. Any item missing this information will be returned to the sender.

Officials said the suspension was necessary while the agency works to adapt systems to comply with the U.S. regulations. “Australia Post is monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates on the impacts of the regulatory changes on our customers, and Australian outbound parcel services to the U.S., as they become available,” the statement said.

Tariff Rules Overhauled

The U.S. has ended its $800 duty-free threshold for imported goods, effective Aug. 29, meaning all goods, regardless of value, may now be subject to import duty. Previously, shipments valued below $800 were exempt from duty charges unless on a restricted list.

The new rules are expected to slow processing times and increase costs for Australian businesses and individuals who frequently send goods to the U.S., one of Australia Post’s busiest international markets.

Shipments classified as gifts under $100 are exempt, but only if they are sent from an individual to another individual. “If the sender’s information includes a business name or looks like a purchase it will not qualify as a gift,” the notice warned.

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Security Delays and Restrictions

The U.S. Postal Service has also advised that heightened mail security will likely result in longer delivery times, particularly for articles addressed to government agencies in Washington, D.C. Some mail may be subject to irradiation to reduce potential threats, a process that can damage biological samples, medicines, photographic film, and electronics.

Australia Post reminded customers that several categories of goods remain prohibited from being sent to the U.S., including alcoholic beverages, meat and fish products, dairy, lithium batteries, firearms, and tobacco. Food shipments require prior notice with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and may be destroyed if documentation is incomplete.

Impact on Businesses

The sudden changes have sparked concern among exporters, especially small businesses that rely on Australia Post’s international network to reach U.S. customers.

“Many of our members are worried they will lose sales because of the added red tape and uncertainty,” said Paul Zalai, director of the Freight & Trade Alliance, an industry group representing logistics companies. “Any suspension in services to a market the size of the United States is going to hit exporters hard.”

Australia Post did not provide a timeline for when full service might resume but urged customers to check its website and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection site for updates.

Ongoing Monitoring

The agency said it is working with U.S. authorities to clarify the rules and update systems for compliance. “We recommend you visit the official websites of the relevant authorities for the most up-to-date information,” the statement said.

For now, customers can still send letters and eligible gifts, but parcels containing commercial goods are suspended until further notice.

The United States is one of Australia’s largest trading partners, and the changes mark a significant disruption in cross-border e-commerce and personal shipping.

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