By Andreas Lundberg 
Mexico’s postal service, Correos de Mexico, announced Wednesday a temporary suspension of package shipments to the United States, effective immediately, due to the impending end of the U.S. “de minimis” tariff exemption. The exemption, which allows duty-free entry for packages valued under $800, is set to expire on Friday, prompting confusion and similar pauses in postal services from countries like Australia, Japan, and several European nations.
The decision follows months of negotiations between Mexico and the Trump administration to avoid broader tariffs. In 2024, approximately 1.36 billion packages, valued at $64.6 billion, entered the U.S. under the exemption, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. Mexico’s government stated it is working with U.S. authorities and international postal organizations to clarify new import duty protocols and resume services in an orderly manner.
The suspension has already impacted individuals. Yunnueth Hernández, who visited a Mexico City post office with her children to send a letter to a U.S. relative, was turned away. “They told us shipments to the U.S. were canceled because of the tariffs,” she said, disappointed. Another woman was seen in tears outside the Main Post Office, unable to send a 10-page letter and photographs to her boyfriend in the U.S.
The move comes amid Mexico’s efforts to appease the Trump administration, including heightened actions against drug cartels and extraditing 26 cartel figures to the U.S. for prosecution. However, uncertainty over the new U.S. tariff policies continues to disrupt international postal services and trade.
Dale Chaucer 
Jack