Austrian Post announced it will stop accepting parcels bound for the United States beginning August 26th, citing stricter U.S. customs regulations. The decision affects shipments to the U.S. and Puerto Rico, with the last posting day set for Monday, August 25.
The partially state-owned company said in a statement that only limited exceptions will apply. Gift shipments from private individuals valued at less than $100, provided they are clearly marked as gifts, will still be permitted.
Austrian Post pointed directly to the dismantling of the previous U.S. import threshold as the trigger for the suspension.
“The regulation that goods valued at less than $800 may be imported into the United States duty- and tax-free has been abolished.” The company added that there is currently insufficient information available on postal and parcel customs and how U.S. customs treat different packages.
According to the Austrian Post, the tightening of regulations by Washington is creating “major challenges for all postal companies worldwide when shipping goods to the United States.”
The Austrian Post also stressed that the measure is temporary. Several other European postal operators are implementing similar suspensions, highlighting the scale of disruption. Norway’s Posten Bring, Sweden-Denmark’s PostNord, and Belgium’s bpost have already paused parcel shipments to the U.S., citing insufficient time to adapt to the pending changes and unclear customs procedures.
Estonia’s Omniva has also halted parcel deliveries of goods to the U.S., though letters and documents are still accepted. The company said it is awaiting clarity before resuming services. In Finland, Posti suspended commercial goods shipments to the U.S. starting August 22nd, while still allowing letters, documents, and gifts under $100 to be sent. Posti said it is working with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and U.S. Customs to find a resolution.
Belgium’s bpost confirmed that only goods shipments are affected, with letters without goods remaining unaffected. MaltaPost, meanwhile, warned through PostEurop of likely disruptions for U.S.-bound goods, citing the abrupt implementation of the new rules and ongoing uncertainty around customs clearance processes.
With postal operators across Europe halting or restricting shipments, Austrian Post’s suspension underscores the wider shockwaves triggered by Washington’s policy change. While documents and express deliveries remain possible, ordinary parcels from much of Europe to the U.S. will grind to a halt until new customs procedures are clarified.
