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US Postal Service places embargo on parcels from China

Suspension follows White House trade actions on Chinese goods

Eric Kulisch
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Workers process packages at a U.S. Postal Service facility. (Photo: Postal Service)

Key Takeaways:

  • The U.S. Postal Service temporarily suspended accepting inbound parcels from China and Hong Kong.
  • No official explanation was given for the suspension, which does not affect letters or flat documents.
  • This action follows the Trump administration's imposition of a 10% tariff on all goods from China and the end of duty-free benefits for low-value e-commerce parcels.
  • The new tariffs and suspension aim to combat illegal fentanyl shipments and could increase costs for consumers.
Key takeaways sponsored by SONAR

The U.S. Postal Service late Tuesday temporarily suspended acceptance of inbound parcels from China and Hong Kong, according to a service bulletin on the agency’s website. No explanation for the cutoff was given, and a spokesperson declined to provide details.

National postal services China Post and Hong Kong Post collect mail and ship it to the United States by air carrier under procedures outlined in international agreements. 

The suspension does not apply to letters and flat document pouches.

The Trump administration this week imposed a 10% tariff on all goods from China and banned all low-value, e-commerce parcels from receiving duty-free benefits under the de minimis entry program. The administration said the emergency order is part of its strategy to stop the illegal shipment of fentanyl and precursor chemicals into the United States.

The move against low-value shipments will force business-to-consumer online orders to go through regular customs clearance and pay duties of 10% to 35%. Trade analysts say the extra costs could be passed on to consumers.

Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper articles by Eric Kulisch.

Write to Eric Kulisch at ekulisch@freightwaves.com.

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Eric Kulisch

Eric is the Supply Chain and Air Cargo Editor at FreightWaves. An award-winning business journalist with extensive experience covering the logistics sector, Eric spent nearly two years as the Washington, D.C., correspondent for Automotive News, where he focused on regulatory and policy issues surrounding autonomous vehicles, mobility, fuel economy and safety. He has won two regional Gold Medals and a Silver Medal from the American Society of Business Publication Editors for government and trade coverage, and news analysis. He was voted best for feature writing and commentary in the Trade/Newsletter category by the D.C. Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He was runner up for News Journalist and Supply Chain Journalist of the Year in the Seahorse Freight Association's 2024 journalism award competition. In December 2022, Eric was voted runner up for Air Cargo Journalist. He won the group's Environmental Journalist of the Year award in 2014 and was the 2013 Supply Chain Journalist of the Year. As associate editor at American Shipper Magazine for more than a decade, he wrote about trade, freight transportation and supply chains. He has appeared on Marketplace, ABC News and National Public Radio to talk about logistics issues in the news. Eric is based in Vancouver, Washington. He can be reached for comments and tips at ekulisch@freightwaves.com