Decline in US Postal Services by 81%
The new US customs regulations, introduced in late August, have significantly affected international postal traffic to the USA. According to the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the agency responsible for coordinating global postal services, there has been an 81% decrease in international postal traffic to the USA since the implementation of these regulations.
The decline in postal traffic can be attributed to the abolition of duty-free imports of goods valued under $800, which took effect on August 29. This change was justified by US President Donald Trump, who cited large-scale smuggling of dangerous drugs in duty-free packages as a major concern.
In response to the new customs rules, 88 postal service providers worldwide have suspended or partially suspended shipments to the USA. Among these is DHL, a Bonn-based company operating under the Deutsche Post brand, which has significantly reduced its parcel service. However, the impact of the new technical solutions being developed by the UPU on these service providers is yet to be seen.
The UPU is working on technical solutions to resume postal traffic with the USA. These solutions are designed to allow service providers to calculate and pay the necessary duties for shipping to the USA, thereby facilitating the resumption of normal postal services. It is unclear, though, how these solutions will affect the ongoing decline in international postal traffic to the USA.
The new US customs regulations have global repercussions. The UPU spokesperson expects the decline in international postal traffic to the USA to continue, but the impact of the new technical solutions is yet to be seen. It is also unclear how the decline in international postal traffic will affect the overall economy.
The UPU is working closely with US authorities to address issues and enable the swift restart of parcel shipping to the USA. However, it is unclear how the UPU is specifically addressing the issue of drug smuggling in the context of the decline in international postal traffic to the USA.
In conclusion, the new US customs regulations have had a significant impact on international postal traffic to the USA. The decline in postal traffic is expected to continue, but the impact of the new technical solutions being developed by the UPU is yet to be seen. The UPU is working closely with US authorities to address issues and enable the swift restart of parcel shipping to the USA.
