Mexico Suspends Postal Deliveries to the United States After End of Duty-Free Rule

Mexico City, August 29, 2025 — Millions of Mexicans with family in the United States are feeling the impact of a sudden change in trade rules that has forced Correos de México, the national mail service, to temporarily suspend postal and parcel deliveries to the U.S.

The move follows the U.S. government’s repeal of the long-standing de minimis exemption, which had allowed packages valued under US $800 to enter duty-free. As of August 29, 2025, all packages arriving in the U.S. from abroad are subject to import duties, regardless of their value.

Correos de México announced the suspension beginning August 27, explaining that the new rules created uncertainty over customs procedures and left unanswered questions about who will collect duties, what data will be required, and how it will be transmitted to U.S. authorities.

A Global Ripple Effect

Mexico is not alone. Postal services in Germany, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Spain, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand have also halted shipments to the U.S., citing the need for time to adapt systems to process millions of parcels that now require inspection.

Private carriers are also adjusting. Deutsche Post DHL has suspended most package shipments containing goods to the U.S., though DHL Express remains operational. The company clarified that documents and personal gifts valued under US $100, sent between individuals, can still be shipped without issue.

Everyday Life Disrupted

The suspension has surprised ordinary citizens on both sides of the border, particularly Mexican families accustomed to sending small gifts, letters, or personal items to relatives in the U.S.

In Mexico City, residents reported being turned away at post offices when attempting to send even simple letters or family photos. “We couldn’t send the letter because we were told the tariffs had canceled shipments to the U.S.,” one woman told reporters. Another left in tears after learning her package of photos could not be mailed.

The Bigger Picture

The de minimis exemption had been in place since 1938 and was gradually expanded to keep up with global commerce, most recently set at US $800. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in 2024 alone, 1.36 billion packages entered the U.S. under the exemption, with a combined value of $64.4 billion.

Between 2018 and 2021, more than 51 million parcels were sent from Mexico to the U.S. under the rule, making Mexico the sixth-largest sender after China, which shipped more than a billion.

Analysts say the new policy is expected to hit low-cost e-commerce platforms particularly hard, as many businesses had used the exemption to split bulk orders into smaller shipments that avoided tariffs.

Next Steps

The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) said it is in talks with U.S. authorities and international postal organizations to establish mechanisms that would allow for an orderly resumption of services. Officials stressed the goal is to provide certainty for users and avoid future setbacks in cross-border deliveries.

For now, both businesses and families are advised to check with local post offices or couriers before attempting to send documents or parcels to the U.S.