AdvertisementAdvertisementPostal employees work at the service counters of the Kolkata General Post Office (GPO) in Kolkata on Mar 14, 2024. (File photo: AFP/Dibyangshu Sarkar)23 Aug 2025 09:48PM (Updated: 23 Aug 2025 10:00PM) Bookmark Bookmark WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedInRead a summary of this article on FAST.Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST MUMBAI: India will temporarily suspend postal deliveries to the United States, the government said on Saturday (Aug 23), citing confusion stemming from tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.The move comes less than a week before the Trump administration's decision to strip certain low-value parcels of their duty-free treatment goes into effect.India's communications ministry said the executive order issued last month requires transport carriers or other "qualified parties" approved by US authorities to collect and remit the tariff duties.But "several critical processes relating to the designation of 'qualified parties' and mechanisms for duty collection and remittance remain undefined", the ministry said in a statement."Consequently, US-bound air carriers have expressed their inability to accept postal consignments after Aug 25, 2025, citing lack of operational and technical readiness."As a result, India's department of posts will temporarily suspend bookings of "all types of postal articles" destined for the United States from Monday except letters, documents and gift items of up to US$100 in value."These exempt categories will continue to be accepted and conveyed to the USA, subject to further clarifications from CBP and USPS," the ministry said, adding that "every effort is being made to normalise services".India says US trade negotiations still going on as fresh tariffs loomThe move follows similar steps taken by postal services and mail carriers across Europe.France's La Poste told AFP it would suspend most package deliveries to the United States from Monday.It said the new implementation rules were issued by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Aug 15, "leaving European postal services with an extremely limited timeframe to get prepared".The Trump administration has said that it would abolish a tax exemption on small packages entering the United States from Aug 29.Source: AFP/dyNewsletterMorning BriefSubscribe to CNA’s Morning BriefAn automated curation of our top stories to start your day.Sign up for our newslettersGet our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inboxSubscribe hereGet the CNA appStay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best storiesDownload hereGet WhatsApp alertsJoin our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat appJoin hereAlso worth readingContent is loading...Expand to read the full storyGet bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST