India to suspend postal deliveries to US over tariff confusion

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The suspension will start from Aug 25, although letters, documents and gift items up to S$128 can still be posted to the US.

PHOTO: REUTERS

MUMBAI - India will temporarily suspend postal deliveries to the US, the government said on Aug 23, citing confusion stemming from tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

The move comes less than a week before the Trump administration’s decision to

strip certain low-value parcels

India’s communications ministry said the executive order issued last month requires transport carriers or other “qualified parties” approved by US authorities to collect and remit the tariff duties.

But “several critical processes relating to the designation of ‘qualified parties’ and mechanisms for duty collection and remittance remain undefined,” the ministry said in a statement.

“Consequently, US-bound air carriers have expressed their inability to accept postal consignments after 25th August, 2025, citing lack of operational and technical readiness.”

As a result, India’s department of posts will temporarily suspend bookings of “all types of postal articles” destined for the US from Aug 25 except letters, documents and gift items of up to US$100 (S$128) in value.

“These exempt categories will continue to be accepted and conveyed to the USA, subject to further clarifications from CBP and USPS,” the ministry said, adding that “every effort is being made to normalise services”.

The move follows

similar steps taken

France’s La Poste told AFP it would suspend most package deliveries to the US from Aug 25.