BANGKOK – Thailand Post has temporarily suspended all international postal parcel services to the United States, a move triggered by the recent executive order from US President Donald Trump that ended the de minimis tax exemption. The announcement, signed on August 21 by Thapanee Amarinrat, Acting President of Thailand Post, confirms the halt of parcel shipments bound for the US starting from August 22, lasting until further notice.
The decision comes on the heels of President Trump’s July 30 executive order eliminating the de minimis tax exemption, which previously allowed low-value parcels valued up to US$800 per person per day to enter the US without incurring customs duties. This exemption was a key facilitator for millions of small packages entering the US smoothly from around the globe.
With the exemption’s removal effective from August 29, postal operators worldwide, including Thailand Post’s international logistics partners, have paused services to the US due to the complex and costly compliance requirements now imposed. Customers, however, retain access to Courier Post services and can still ship to Amazon FBA warehouses within Thailand Post’s offerings.
The termination of the de minimis threshold has caused significant disruption across global shipping networks. Postal services, online retailers, consumers, and logistics firms are now facing expensive tariffs and complicated customs procedures with limited guidance from US federal agencies. More than four million parcels processed daily by US Customs and Border Protection are expected to be affected by the new regime.
This sweeping change is part of a broader global ripple effect, with several countries’ postal systems halting shipments to the US ahead of the deadline, reflecting the profound challenges introduced by the new US tariff and customs policies.
Thailand Post’s suspension underscores the wide-reaching implications of the US policy shift for international commerce and shipping, spotlighting the uncertainties and logistical hurdles that lie ahead for global e-commerce and postal services.