India Post has temporarily suspended all categories of mail services to the United States due to ambiguity in the new customs regulations introduced by US authorities. This suspension covers letters, documents, and gift items.
Initially, only the booking of gift items worth over 100 US dollars had been restricted, but the scope has now expanded as airlines have refused to carry parcels without clear guidelines. India Post clarified that the decision follows a review of the 22 August notice, which highlighted ongoing transport issues and lack of clarity in the customs process.
For customers with items already booked, India Post has assured full refunds. The department also stated it is closely monitoring the situation and will resume services once the regulatory framework is clear.
The disruption stems from an executive order issued by the Trump administration on 30 July, mandating customs duty on items valued above 100 dollars from 29 August onwards. Responsibility for duty collection was assigned to carriers and qualified parties. However, despite partial guidance issued on 15 August, key procedures such as appointing qualified parties and setting up technical mechanisms for duty collection remain unresolved, prompting airlines to halt parcel transport from 25 August.
