The United States announced on Friday that it is canceling customs duty exemptions for small parcels entering the country from abroad.
President Donald Trump's administration attributed the move to the misuse of low-value shipments to evade tariffs and smuggle drugs. Previously, parcels valued at $800 or less were exempt from customs duties.
According to Agence France-Presse, these parcels will now be subject either to tariffs equivalent to those applied to the country of origin or to fixed fees ranging between $80 and $200 per item. However, some personal items and gifts will remain exempt.
Trump’s trade advisor, Peter Navarro, told reporters that closing this “loophole” helps curb the flow of “narcotics and other dangerous and prohibited goods,” while also generating additional tariff revenue for the United States.
Additionally, postal services in countries including France, Germany, Italy, India, Australia, and Japan have announced they will no longer accept most parcels destined for the United States.
Meanwhile, the UK’s Royal Mail, which took a similar step, announced new services last Thursday for customers who still wish to send products to the United States.