Pakistan, 24 Countries Suspend Mail Service to US Over New Duties

Pakistan, along with 24 other countries, has temporarily suspended international mail services to the United States following the implementation of new U.S. customs duties. The move comes after the United States Postal Service (USPS) introduced stricter import tariffs and processing fees, making it costlier and more complicated for foreign postal operators to deliver packages to U.S. destinations.

The suspension stems from the U.S. decision to impose additional duties and higher clearance fees on international parcels. These new measures are part of Washington’s strategy to:

• Tighten border control on imported goods.

• Protect domestic industries from cheaper foreign products.

• Generate additional federal revenue through customs duties.

However, this has created logistical and financial challenges for foreign postal services, including Pakistan Post.

“The newly enforced U.S. duties have significantly increased delivery costs and slowed down processing times,” said a senior Pakistan Post official.
“We’ve decided to temporarily halt services to avoid burdening customers until a feasible solution is reached.”

Alongside Pakistan, 24 other countries have suspended mail services to the U.S., including:

• India

• Bangladesh

• Sri Lanka

• UAE

• Turkey

• South Africa

• Malaysia

• Indonesia

• Thailand

• Egypt

The decision impacts letters, parcels, and e-commerce shipments. Courier services like DHL, FedEx, and UPS remain unaffected, as they operate under private agreements rather than government-to-government arrangements.

The suspension has raised concerns among small businesses, exporters, and e-commerce platforms in Pakistan that depend on U.S. markets.

• Exporters of handicrafts, garments, and traditional products face potential delays.

• Online sellers using platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy may see order cancellations.

• Freelancers and SMEs relying on document delivery could be impacted.

Economists warn that prolonged suspension may affect Pakistan’s trade competitiveness in the U.S. market, especially for small-scale exporters.

The suspension has triggered mixed reactions online:

• Business owners are urging the government to negotiate with the U.S. to restore services quickly.

• Consumers are frustrated over the delayed deliveries of products ordered from the U.S.

• Hashtags like #USMailSuspension, #PakistanPost, and #CustomsDuties are trending on Twitter (X).

Officials from Pakistan Post and the Universal Postal Union (UPU) are reportedly in contact with the U.S. Postal Service to:

• Negotiate reduced clearance fees for participating countries.

• Find a mutually beneficial framework for cross-border deliveries.

• Explore digital customs pre-clearance to speed up processing times.

Until an agreement is reached, Pakistan Post has advised citizens to use private courier services for urgent shipments to the U.S

The suspension of Pakistan’s international mail service to the U.S. highlights the growing global impact of new U.S. customs policies. While temporary, the move poses significant challenges for businesses, freelancers, and consumers in Pakistan. Authorities are hopeful that ongoing negotiations will lead to a swift resolution and the resumption of services in the coming weeks.

For More  Visit: Nationbytes.pk