US de minimis duty-free exemption suspended prompts Poland’s Post to restrict some US-bound shipments
An American executive order that suspends the de minimis duty-free exemption for all countries takes effect on Friday, August 29, 2025, affecting the entire European Union. In response, Poland’s national postal service, Poczta Polska, issued a notice on Friday about forthcoming limits on certain shipments.
Starting Monday, August 25, 2025, Poczta Polska will temporarily curb the acceptance of parcels destined for the United States. The move, which follows the UPU’s global approach but is based on a different framework, will impact all postal operators and their customers sending items through postal networks to the US Postal Service (USPS).
The restrictions apply to the following types of shipments containing goods (until further notice):
– Parcels, including those with declared values
– Letter shipments with declared values
– Unregistered and registered letter mail
– Global Express shipments
– EMS shipments
There are exceptions:
– Unregistered letters and registered letters that contain no goods (only correspondence and documents)
– EMS shipments that include documents
Similar measures have been adopted by multiple other European postal administrations.
Poczta Polska says it is monitoring the situation closely with European partners and will resume accepting shipments of goods to the USA as soon as possible. Any changes will be communicated promptly.
Context and potential impact for readers:
– The de minimis suspension means small-value goods sent to the US could face duties and taxes that previously wouldn’t have applied, prompting changes in how cross-border shipments are prepared.
– Shippers may need to adjust declarations, consider alternative shipping methods, or separate documents from goods where possible.
– The change underscores ongoing regulatory tightening on cross-border mail and e-commerce shipments, with European postal operators coordinating responses.
Summary:
A US executive order removing the de minimis duty-free exemption will start affecting EU-to-US mail flows from late August 2025, with Poland’s Post temporarily restricting several categories of goods-bound shipments to the US from August 25. Exceptions remain for document-only mail and EMS with documents. Readers should expect ongoing updates as the situation evolves and providers adapt to the new regime.
Additional notes:
– This is part of a broader shift in cross-border mail policy affecting multiple European countries, not just Poland.
– Businesses sending goods to the US should review their packaging, declarations, and shipment routing to minimize disruption and ensure compliance as policies continue to unfold.