India’s Department of Posts has halted bookings of most postal items to the United States from August 25, 2025, after Washington scrapped its duty-free exemption for low-value imports, according to a press release by India’s Press Information Bureau.

The decision follows the US Administration’s Executive Order No. 14324, issued on July 30, 2025, which removes the de minimis duty waiver on shipments valued up to $800. From August 29, 2025, all goods entering the US through international postal routes will face tariffs under the country’s International Emergency Economic Power Act framework. Gift consignments up to $100 will remain exempt.

Under the order, US Customs and Border Protection instructed that duties must be collected and remitted by transport carriers or other approved “qualified parties.” While guidelines released on August 15, 2025, provided initial directions, key aspects such as the identification of qualified parties and mechanisms for payment processing remain unclear.

In response, several US-bound air carriers have said they cannot handle postal consignments beyond August 25, 2025, due to insufficient operational readiness. As a result, India’s postal department announced a temporary suspension of all categories of postal articles to the US, excluding letters, documents, and gift parcels worth up to $100.

India’s Department of Posts said it is working with stakeholders, including the US Postal Service and US authorities, to restore services swiftly. Customers whose items cannot be dispatched will be eligible for postage refunds. The department added it regrets the disruption and pledged to resume full operations as soon as conditions permit.