The Government of India’s Department of Posts, on Saturday, 23 August 2025, announced that it has issued an executive order temporarily suspending all types of postal articles to the United States amid US President Donald Trump‘s 50% tariffs on India.
According to the official announcement, the temporary suspension will be in effect except for the letters or documents and gift items which have a value of up to $100.
“The Department of Posts has decided to temporarily suspend booking of all types of postal articles, destined for the USA, with effect from 25th August, 2025, except letters/documents and gift items up to $100 in value,” said the department in the official filing.
As per the Department of Posts, these exempted categories will continue to be accepted and conveyed to the USA, subject to further clarifications from CBP and USPS, the postal service companies.
“The Department is closely monitoring the evolving situation in coordination with all stakeholders, and every effort is being made to normalise services at the earliest possible opportunity,” the government said.
The Department of Posts announced that the customers who have already booked their parcels for the United States will have to claim for a refund, due to the temporary suspension of all types of postal articles.
“Customers who have already booked articles that cannot be dispatched to the USA due to these circumstances may seek a refund of postage. The Department of Posts deeply regrets the inconvenience caused to customers and assures that all possible measures are being undertaken to resume full services to the USA at the earliest,” said the government.
The US federal administration issued an order on 30 July 2025 stating that the duty-free goods valued up to $800 will be withdrawn with effect from 29 August 2025.
This means that all international postal items destined for the United States, regardless of their value, will be subject to customs duties as per the country-specific International Emergency Economic Power Act (IEEPA) tariff framework.
“However, gift items up to the value of USD 100 shall continue to remain exempt from duties,” according to the official announcement.
According to the order, the transport carriers delivering shipments through the international postal network are required to collect and remit duties on postal shipments.
“While CBP issued certain guidelines on 15 August 2025, several critical processes relating to the designation of ‘qualified parties’ and mechanisms for duty collection and remittance remain undefined. Consequently, U.S.-bound air carriers have expressed their inability to accept postal consignments after 25 August 2025, citing a lack of operational and technical readiness,” said the government in its recent filing.
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