US Deliveries on Pause: What's the Deal with New Import Taxes?

Big changes are happening in the world of international shipping. Starting August 29, the US is changing its rules on import taxes for small packages. This has caused a lot of confusion and delays. Royal Mail and DHL have decided to pause some deliveries to the US. They need time to figure out how to handle the new taxes. Royal Mail says letters and cards can still be sent as usual, but business packages will be on hold for a bit. The US used to have a rule that let small packages worth up to $800 come in without taxes. But now, that rule is changing. Packages worth less than $100 will still be duty-free, but everything else will be taxed like any other import. The US government says this change will help stop illegal shipments and tax evasion. They claim that the number of small packages coming into the US has skyrocketed, making it hard to control. Other countries, like China, Canada, and Mexico, also send a lot of these small packages to the US. The new rule affects them too. Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany have also paused some deliveries. They say they need more information about how the taxes will work. DHL Express services are still running, though. Etsy, the online marketplace, has advised its sellers to keep an eye on the situation. They are also pausing shipping label purchases for US-bound packages. The new rule was supposed to start in 2027, but the Trump administration moved it up to August 29. This sudden change has left many companies scrambling to adjust.