Australia Post Partially Suspends US Parcel Services Over Trump Tariffs

Australia Post Partially Suspends US Parcel Services Over Trump Tariffs
Above: An Australia Post van in Melbourne, Australia, on Aug. 26, 2025. Image credit: WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

  • Australia Post has announced that it will temporarily suspend some postal services to the United States and Puerto Rico until further notice due to changes in U.S. customs and import tariffs.
  • Australia Post stated that the decision was in light of the Trump administration's suspension of the De Minimis exemption for inbound goods worth less than $800 and its requirement that tariffs be paid in advance of an item's arrival in the U.S., effective Friday.
  • The changes stem from Executive Order 14324 — Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries — which rendered all shipments, barring those through the international postal network, liable to U.S. duties, charges and levies.

Sources Split


The Spin


Pro-Trump narrative

President Trump's tariff changes are necessary to protect American workers and stop the flow of deadly drugs into the country. The De Minimis exemption created a loophole that allowed shippers to evade tariffs and funnel fentanyl and other synthetic opioids into the U.S. These measures, therefore, will shield the American public from unsafe foreign products.

Anti-Trump narrative

Trump's reckless decision to suspend duty-free De Minimis treatment not only drives up costs for American families and small businesses but throws global commerce and shipping into chaos. From Asia to Europe, postal services are already suspending operations with the U.S. in light of these changes, a trend that will only worsen, further slowing global trade.

Narrative C

Australia Post is undoubtedly disappointed with the decision it was forced to take, yet a temporary suspension will allow the company to reassess the evolving situation and make plans moving forward. Its partnership with Zonos will also help the postal operator find a solution at pace for its business customers, keeping the suspension's impact to an absolute minimum.


Metaculus Prediction


The Controversies


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© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 7.18.3