cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/34824534
- Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Belgium will halt parcel shipments to the US starting August 23.
- The operators lack mechanisms to manage the payment of duties without the de minimis exemption.
- Etsy suspended US-bound shipping labels with operators that cannot support prepaid duties.
If you have been eyeing something from overseas, you may want to click “buy now” today.
Postal services operated by Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Belgium — Posten Bring, PostNord, and bpost — said they will suspend parcel shipments to the US ahead of the end of a customs exemption that allows low-value packages to enter the country duty-free.
The conundrum facing postal operators comes as the Trump administration prepares to suspend the “de minimis” exemption starting on August 29. The exemption used to allow international shipments under $800 to cross the border with minimal paperwork and no duties.
Now, these shipments will face tariffs, and not every operator can handle the customs declaration paperwork, have a payment mechanism in place, or be responsible for returns should a receiver refuse to pay tariffs. It’s unclear when the temporary freeze on shipments will resume.
“Due to the short timeframe to adapt to the new specific requirements, PostNord will temporarily halt shipments to the United States and Puerto Rico until a compliant solution has been developed and implemented,” wrote the operator owned by the Swedish and Danish governments in a statement on Wednesday.
Separately, Posten Bring, Norway’s primary postal provider operated by the government, said in a statement that postal services have not been given clear instructions and solutions on how the duties will be paid or who would be responsible for returns. Therefore, Posten Bring sees suspension as the “only option.”
All three European postal services will suspend shipments starting August 23, which applies to all packages other than letters. This means that if you have a pending purchase that is not shipped by the deadline, your seller may need to cancel your order or arrange alternatives.
There are many more suspending the US as a destination, and they are all the larger ones. They simply don’t want to carry the legal responsibility of an unclear legal situation with a rather volatile government.
Cool. As an American I support this even though it does suck.
Keep it up, Europe. Fuck the US. More of you should do this.
Sincerely, somebody from the US.
I do not think they do it because of the current political situation, rather the weird unclear tariff regulations.
If Europe can’t export to a rich & large market like the US, it’s not exactly fucking the US, it’s more like losing valuable customers.
Putting sanctions on a fascist, abusive, oppressive country is a reasonable step for democratic countries.
They shouldn’t do anything that makes it easier for the regime to stay in power.
Even if it causes them pain, it’s better to not support their enemy.
But that’s not sanctions. Europe is the one who is sanctioned, because our goods are going to be subject to 15% import duties while US goods won’t be. This will only lower the Europe exports to the US and increase the US imports in Europe. At the end those tarrifs will be paid by the end customers in both places.
I wish it was different but it is not. Ursula and the EU simply folded and accepted the US conditions.
We should be matching tariffs.
You’ve attended the Trump school of economics, haven’t you? You seem to understand tariffs exactly as he does.
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Oh, please enlighten me how those tariffs work according to you?
Are citizens of any fascist nation really valuable customers to people with morals?
I mean, sure, people in that country used to be great, and they can certainly be again if they defeat the evils at home. But right now? I’m not sure it’s wise to support a nation turning to evil any more than is necessary :-(
Sadly as a disgusted American who dreads the news each day and is waiting for a full military takeover and Marshall law to arrive… I wholeheartedly agree with you.
This is true, but every day more and more people are reaching a point where they can’t afford shit so we probably won’t be a rich market for much longer.
