At the origin of this decision, a decree signed by the Trump administration on July 30. This puts an end to the so-called “minimis” exemption, which has so far sent goods of a value of less than 800 dollars (around 690 euros) without customs duties. Now, all packages, even of low value, will be subject to a 15 % import tax. A measure that upsets all the logistics flows between Europe and the United States.
Insurmountable technical constraints
La Poste explains that it did not have the time necessary to adapt its computer systems to new methods. The American customs services only provided their technical specifications on August 15, just ten days before the reform entry into force. A delay deemed too short by the operator, who therefore preferred to suspend the expeditions, rather than risking a massive blockage on arrival on American soil.
But beware, not all shipments concerned. La Poste specifies that gifts exchanged between individuals worth less than 100 euros will continue to be accepted. Likewise, express services like Chronopost, as well as private carriers such as Fedex or UPS, remain operational. In practice, consumers and businesses will therefore have to turn to these alternative, generally more expensive solutions.
A concerted decision at European level
France is not the only one to act in this way since several European postal operators, including Bpost in Belgium, Deutsche Post in Germany, Correos in Spain or Austrian Post, also suspended or restricted their shipments to the United States. The Postorop organization, which brings together 51 operators on the continent, had already warned that the American reform was likely to cause an almost generalized freezing of merchant mail across the Atlantic.
For individuals, the immediate impact will be an increase in shipping costs. For professionals, especially small businesses that were based on the postal network to export at a lower cost, this suspension represents a serious obstacle. While waiting for a possible adaptation of the post office systems to the new American rules, sending goods to the United States will therefore go through more expensive and less accessible circuits.
🟣 To not miss any news on the Geek newspaper, subscribe to Google News and on our WhatsApp. And if you love us, .
