India has decided to temporarily stop most postal shipments to the United States due to confusion over new U.S. tariff rules. The move comes days before the U.S. removes duty-free treatment for certain low-value packages.
According to India’s Ministry of Communications, the executive order requires carriers and other authorized parties to collect and remit tariffs. But many processes for identifying these parties and handling payments are still unclear. As a result, several carriers said they cannot accept U.S.-bound mail after August 25, 2025.
India Post will still handle letters, official documents, and gifts valued up to $100, while all other mail types will be temporarily suspended.
Similar disruptions are being seen in Europe. France’s La Poste announced it would halt most U.S. package deliveries, citing limited time to comply with new U.S. Customs and Border Protection rules issued on August 15.
The U.S. government is set to eliminate a tax exemption on small parcels starting August 29, 2025. Indian officials said they are working to restore normal postal services as quickly as possible.
