Trump's Tariffs Crash US Postal Traffic: An 80% Plunge

The Trump administration's abolishment of the de minimis exemption on small packages entering the US, effective August 29th, has caused a dramatic 80%+ drop in postal traffic. This policy change, eliminating duty-free entry for items under $800, left 88 global postal operators partially or fully suspending parcel shipments to the US. The Universal Postal Union (UPU) cites insufficient preparation time for operators to adapt to the new rules and collect duties, leading to major operational disruptions. The UPU is working on a technical solution to restore mail flow to the US.