🚨 India Post Halts High-Value Shipments to the U.S. from August 25 – What It Means for You

 

India Post Suspends High-Value Parcels to the U.S. – Here’s What You Need to Know

Sending packages to friends, family, or customers in the U.S.? Starting August 25, India Post will temporarily stop accepting high-value shipments. Only letters, documents, and gifts worth up to $100 will still be allowed for booking.

This sudden change comes in response to a new executive order issued by the U.S. administration, which takes effect on August 29. The order scraps the earlier duty-free import rule that allowed parcels worth up to $800 to enter the U.S. without taxes. Going forward, all incoming parcels will require pre-paid duties along with advanced customs data before they are shipped.

The issue is, airlines carrying U.S.-bound mail have said they don’t yet have a proper system in place to handle this new process of duty collection and data exchange. Without that framework, they’re unable to carry India Post shipments. As a result, the Department of Posts has suspended bookings until a workable solution is ready. Officials have said efforts are underway to restore the service as quickly as possible.

So, what does the new U.S. duty regime look like? According to the Global Trade Research Initiative, once the new customs entry process is fully in place, every parcel entering the U.S. will attract tariffs. Duties will be charged in one of two ways:

• Ad valorem duty: calculated based on existing U.S. tariff rates under trade law.

• Flat rate duty: $80, $160, or $200 per item, depending on the exporting country’s tariff bracket (below 16%, 16–25%, or above 25%).

In short, if you’re used to sending larger or pricier packages to the U.S. through India Post, you’ll need to hold off for now—and be prepared for higher shipping costs once services resume.