U.S. Tariff Changes Expose Global Postal Chaos and Washington’s Shortsightedness

As President Trump's administration moves to close the long-exploited “de minimis” tariff loophole—a policy allowing most imports under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free—the global postal system faces unprecedented disruption. Over 30 countries, including nearly all of Europe, have halted or sharply curtailed shipping small parcels to American addresses, citing confusion and lack of preparation time following Washington's abrupt policy shift. Why Did Washington Ignore the Warning Signs? The Universal Postal Union (UPU), a United Nations agency responsible for international mail coordination, warned U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that member nations were blindsided by this expedited end to a...