Hey everyone, here's the scoop: on August 29, the U.S. government suspended duty-free treatment for inbound parcels under $800. That single move sent mail traffic to the U.S. tumbling by 81%, according to the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the UN agency that keeps global post running. 🌍📦
UPU Director General Masahiko Metoki is on it: "We're working to uphold responsibility with the rapid development of a new technical solution that will help get mail moving to the U.S. again." 🤞 But with 88 postal operators worldwide already pausing services to the U.S., the challenge is real.
For small and micro entrepreneurs in South Asia and Southeast Asia—think your favourite handmade sellers on marketplaces like Meesho, Tokopedia, or Shopee—this policy feels like a punch to the gut. Without duty-free perks, shipping costs and delivery times could skyrocket, putting cross-border sales at risk.
Australia, the UK, France and Germany have also stopped accepting most parcels bound for the U.S., adding extra hurdles for anyone dreaming of reaching customers in New York or Los Angeles.
What's next? Keep an eye on new shipping solutions from the UPU and private couriers racing to fill the gap. Meanwhile, small businesses might need to diversify—hello, local and regional markets! 🚀
Stay tuned for more updates on how this tariff shake-up will evolve and what it means for the hustlers turning passions into profits. 💼✨
Reference(s):
Trump's new tariff policy sparks 81% plunge in global parcels to U.S.
cgtn.com
