Starting August 25, 2025, India’s Department of Posts has said it will temporarily suspend the booking of most postal items bound for the United States. Exceptions: letters, documents, and gift items valued up to USD 100. That’s the headline. The mess behind it is the real story. 

Why It Happened 

The U.S. scrapped the long-standing de minimis duty exemption , the one that used to let low-value parcels (under $800) come into the U.S. without customs headaches. With that exemption pulled, new rules kick in that make low-cost parcel processing suddenly… complicated. Air carriers and logistics partners told India they couldn’t accept shipments because systems weren’t ready to handle the new duties. So India Post hit the brakes. 

The legal receipt- yes, it’s real

The U.S. change is tied to an Executive Order (No. 14324) that eliminates the de minimis safety net starting late August. Multiple countries’ postal operators have reacted the same way pausing shipments because nobody wants to be the one stuck footing an unexpected duty bill. This isn’t just sour politics. It’s supply-chain chaos. 

Who Gets Punched The Hardest (And Why You Should Care)

Students & families
If you’re an Indian student in the U.S. waiting for a care package or academic books, expect delays and additional costs. Many relied on India Post’s cheaper international rates. That lifeline is shaky now. 

Small exporters & micro-sellers
E-commerce sellers who shipped low-value goods to U.S. customers will see their cheapest shipping channel vanish. Customs fees, new paperwork, and refusals by carriers will hit margins hard. Think of it as an unplanned tax on small sellers. 

Gift senders and personal shippers
Gifts under $100 are still allowed. Everything else? Complicated. If you planned to send a birthday box of Indian snacks to a cousin in Texas, check the value and the delivery channel fast. 

The Operational Reality, What India Post Actually Said

India Post’s bulletin explained that U.S.-bound air carriers were refusing shipments because the new customs processes aren’t yet operational. The Department of Posts promised refunds for booked items that can’t be delivered and said they’re coordinating with stakeholders to restore services. Translation: they’re scrambling.

Quick Checklist: What To Do If You’re Affected (Do This Now)

  1. Stop booking parcels to the U.S. until you confirm your carrier can handle the new customs process.

  2. If you’ve already sent something, track it obsessively and prepare for refunds or returns.

  3. Students: switch to courier partners with private-carrier agreements (but expect higher fees).

  4. Small exporters: pause U.S. shipments or raise prices to cover potential duties and extra paperwork. Communicate clearly with customers.

  5. Gifts under $100 still move, use that if you must send something urgent.

Bigger Picture: This Is Part Of A Global Scramble

India isn’t the only country hitting pause. Postal operators in Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia reacted similarly after the U.S. action. Why? Because the global postal system relied for decades on that small-parcel exception. Remove it, and you rip off a seam in the whole fabric. Expect ripple effects: higher shipping costs, slower delivery windows, and more paperwork.

Governments can change trade rules. Fine. But the rollout here looks like a stunt without an operational plan. When policy outpaces logistics, people pay. Students miss books. small sellers lose margins. Families lose gifts. Trade policy should not feel like a timed surprise party where the surprise is fees. Governments need playbooks, not press releases. 

Don’t Get Caught With An Empty Mailbox

The short takeaway: if you have anything important heading from India to the U.S., treat it like a high-value hostage situation. Pause new bookings. Check values. Move to private couriers if the item is urgent. And maybe, start sending gifts early next year. The postal world just learned how fragile the “cheap international parcel” economy was. You’re just seeing the hangover.