“Due to the discontinuation of the Minimis regime (customs duty exemption for imported goods) by the United States, CTT will temporarily suspend the shipment of postal items containing these goods to the United States in all mail products, universal service parcels, and international express mail from August 26,” the statement reads.
Shipments destined for the United States containing “exclusively documents and gifts between individuals valued under $100 will not be affected by this measure,” CTT adds.
The shipment of parcels containing goods to the United States “can still be ensured through the International Premium product, for contractual customers of CTT Expresso, which allows shipments up to 30 kg with pickup and delivery at the most convenient location, with the fees borne by the recipients,” refer to the Postal Services.
The change in the Minimis regime in the United States resulted from an Executive Order by U.S. President Donald Trump, which will come into effect on August 29 and eliminates the tariff exemption, meaning all shipments to the U.S. will be subject to customs duties, CTT recalls.
This change “directly affects international postal flows and requires shippers to pay customs duties before transporting to the U.S.”
The specifics of the new requirements “have not yet been fully clarified by U.S. customs authorities and will require operational adaptations by postal companies worldwide,” continue the Portuguese Postal Services.
Thus, CTT joins other European operators in suspending postal shipments of goods to the U.S. “such as bpost (Belgium), La Poste (France), Deutsche Post (Germany), among others.”
Despite the short period between the announcement of the executive order and the start of the new regime, “all efforts are being made by CTT to implement the necessary changes to guarantee the provision of postal shipping services to the U.S. in all shipping modes,” they add.
The suspension will last “for the time strictly necessary” to implement these changes, CTT states, emphasizing that it “covers postal shipments containing goods destined for the U.S., Puerto Rico, and other territories under its administration.”
