Royal Mail Suspends US Deliveries – What It Means (2025)
Royal Mail services to the United States have now been temporarily suspended.
From August 27, Royal Mail and several major European postal services will temporarily suspend parcel shipments to the United States, ahead of a major shift in U.S. customs enforcement rules set to take effect on August 29, 2025.
This pause in service affects all shipments travelling to the U.S. via regular post, with packages over $100 now subject to a 10% duty under the new American customs threshold.
Here’s what you need to know, and how World Options customers can keep their deliveries moving.
What’s Changing in US Customs?
The U.S. government has announced changes to its de minimis customs rules, which previously allowed packages under $800 to enter the country without duty.
Under the new rules, items valued over $100 — including gifts — will now be:
Subject to import duty (10%)
More strictly documented
Held up if paperwork is missing or incorrect
This sudden shift has created operational uncertainty for postal services, many of which are not yet fully aligned with the U.S. compliance systems.
Who’s Affected?
As of today:
Royal Mail (UK) will stop accepting U.S.-bound parcels from August 27.
Other European national postal services (e.g. La Poste, Deutsche Post, PostNL) are expected to follow suit.
Small businesses and consumers who rely on standard postal shipping for ecommerce or personal use are directly affected.
When Will Services Resume?
Postal operators have said the pause is temporary while systems are updated to meet the new documentation and duty-processing requirements. However, no official restart date has been confirmed. It will depend on how quickly each service can adapt.
What Can You Do In the Meantime?
1. Switch to a Multi-Carrier Shipping Solution
At World Options, we work with major carriers like:
These couriers are still shipping to the U.S. without disruption and have customs-ready systems in place.
✅ No postal delays
✅ Up-to-date customs compliance
✅ Full tracking and support
2. Speak to Local Postal Branches
If you work with Royal Mail or another national postal provider, speak to your local depot. They may advise cut-off dates or help redirect shipments during the suspension period.
Parcels bound for the US will need to be sent via alternative couriers while Royal Mail’s suspension remains in place.
3. Check Product Values
Shipments below $100 may still move more easily. If your parcels are close to that threshold, you may be able to split orders or adjust declared values where appropriate.
(Always declare accurately and ethically; false declarations can lead to penalties.)
Why Is This Happening?
These new rules reflect growing U.S. efforts to tighten trade rules and collect more tax on foreign goods, especially as global e-commerce continues to rise.
For UK and EU businesses, this is part of a wider shift toward tougher cross-border compliance — and a reminder of the importance of using flexible, carrier-agnostic solutions like World Options.
Summary of Key Changes
| Change | Impact |
|---|---|
| U.S. de minimis drops from $800 to $100 | More parcels now incur import duty (10%) |
| Royal Mail suspends US parcels from Aug 27 | UK post paused before new customs rules kick in |
| European postal services also halting | Delays across standard post from EU to US expected |
| Private couriers still operating | Use DHL, UPS, FedEx via World Options to avoid disruption |
