The postal services of France and Germany announced sweeping restrictions on deliveries to the United States on Friday, August 22, after new tariff rules imposed by President Donald Trump disrupted transatlantic trade.
France’s La Poste said it would suspend all package deliveries to the US starting Monday, except for gifts sent by individuals valued under €100.
The decision comes after Washington’s sudden policy change abolishing a tax exemption on small packages, leaving European postal operators with just days to adapt.
“The new tariff rules were only issued on August 15, giving European postal services an extremely limited timeframe to get prepared,” La Poste said in a statement.
“Related documentation still requires further clarification.” La Poste sends roughly 1.6 million parcels to the US each year, of which 80% originate from businesses and 20% from private individuals.
Germany’s Deutsche Post DHL, one of the world’s largest courier services, announced it would “temporarily suspend” its standard package delivery service to the US beginning Saturday.
The company said new processes introduced by US authorities left critical questions unanswered, including who would bear the cost of tariffs and how they would be applied.
While suspending standard deliveries, DHL said its more expensive express service—covering packages weighing up to 70 kilograms—would remain available. However, it warned that even gift parcels worth less than $100 would face additional scrutiny to prevent misuse for commercial shipments.
Other European countries, including Belgium, Austria, and Denmark, have already introduced similar restrictions, underscoring the widespread disruption caused by the abrupt change.
At the heart of the dispute is a decision by the Trump administration to abolish a longstanding exemption on small packages valued under $800.
Effective August 29, such parcels will now be taxed at 15%, matching the tariff applied to other European imports under a recent US-EU trade agreement.
Analysts say the move strikes a significant blow to small European businesses that rely heavily on affordable postal services to reach American customers. Many fear being priced out of the US market as tariffs drive up costs and delivery suspensions create uncertainty.
Consumer groups also warned that individuals sending gifts or personal items may face unexpected hurdles. “For everyday citizens, this will be a frustrating and costly development,” said one European trade advocate.
The disruption highlights broader tensions in transatlantic trade as Washington pushes to recalibrate long-standing agreements.
While the US argues that the measures are necessary to level the playing field, European officials and postal operators say the lack of clarity risks chaos in international commerce.
As the deadline for the new tariffs approaches, businesses across Europe are bracing for delays, higher costs, and a scramble for alternative shipping solutions.
The suspension of services by France and Germany, two of Europe’s largest postal operators, underscores the deepening impact of the escalating trade dispute.
