Maltese exporters likely to face rising costs under new US customs regime

European postal operators have warned of possible delays or suspensions in shipments to the United States from 29th August 2025, following sweeping changes to American customs rules.

The industry group PostEurop, which represents Europe’s national postal networks and includes MaltaPost, said the new measures would “significantly affect all postal companies worldwide.”

At the heart of the change is the United States (US) Government’s decision to abolish the “de minimis” exemption, a long-standing rule that allowed goods valued under USD 800 to enter the country without customs duties or complex documentation.

Once the exemption is scrapped, every incoming parcel will be subject to full customs duties and formal clearance procedures, irrespective of its value.

For Maltese exporters and businesses, the impact could be immediate: higher costs, longer processing times and in some cases, the suspension of postal shipments altogether.

In its statement, PostEurop noted that several crucial details remain unresolved, including how duties will be collected, what data must be provided with each shipment and how European postal operators will interface with US Customs and Border Protection.

The short timeline is adding further pressure. The US only released technical guidance on 15th August 2025, leaving operators just two weeks to adapt their systems and procedures before enforcement begins.

“If these critical issues are not resolved before the deadline, PostEurop members, in coordination with their national authorities, may be forced to temporarily restrict or suspend parcel deliveries to the United States,” the association warned.

European postal services are now racing to implement compliant solutions that will allow shipments to continue, while minimising disruption for both private customers and businesses.

Postal operators in Norway, Sweden-Denmark, and Belgium – Posten Bring, PostNord and bpost – have already suspended parcel shipments to the US.