Japan Post Suspends US-Bound Mail Amid US Duty Exemption End

Japan Post Holdings has suspended some US-bound mail after the US ended duty exemption for Japan Post's logistics business. The company mainly operates in postal and logistics services, banking, and life insurance. Japan Post Holdings is a Japan-based company with five business segments, including postal and logistics, post office counter services, international logistics, banking, and life insurance.

Japan Post Holdings, a major Japanese conglomerate, has temporarily suspended some US-bound mail services following the US government's decision to end the duty-free exemption for low-value parcels. The company, which operates in postal and logistics services, banking, and life insurance, announced the suspension on July 2, 2025, citing regulatory uncertainties and the need for clarity on how to process the newly imposed duties.

Under the new US customs regulations, goods mailed from other countries will be subject to tariffs and compliance with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rules. Verifiable gifts valued at less than $100 will remain duty-free, according to the White House [1]. This change, effective August 29, 2025, has prompted a number of international postal services to pause their US-bound shipments until further notice.

Japan Post Holdings, which operates in five business segments including postal and logistics, has temporarily halted the acceptance and transport of business customer parcels via the postal network to the US. The company stated that the suspension is due to a lack of clarity from US authorities on how the duties will be collected and how to submit required data [2].

The decision by Japan Post Holdings to suspend its US-bound mail services is part of a broader trend among international postal services. Other countries, such as Korea, Singapore, and Norway, have also announced similar suspensions. The Czech Republic, Austria, Belgium, and the UK have also temporarily halted US-bound parcels due to regulatory uncertainty [2].

The US Postal Service has not yet responded to a request for comment on the matter. However, FedEx and UPS have stated that they will continue to accept and transport shipments to the US and are unaffected by the postal operators’ decisions [2].

The suspension of mail services by Japan Post Holdings and other international postal services highlights the potential impact of the US government's decision to eliminate the de minimis exemption. The change could lead to higher costs for consumers and businesses, as well as potential delays in the delivery of goods.

The company has stated that it is working intensively to find a viable solution that will enable it to resume airmail transport to the US in the future. The US government has not indicated any plans to push back the August 29 deadline, according to a Trump administration official [2].

References:
[1] https://www.ttnews.com/articles/mail-globally-pause-us
[2] https://t.co/uxkm2LH1jq — DHL Group (@DHLGlobal) August 22, 2025