Postal traffic to U.S. drops over 80% after trade exemption rule ends, U.N. agency says

The U.N.'s Universal Postal Union (UPU) said the global postal network saw postal traffic en route to the U.S. "come to a near halt" after Aug. 29, when the "de minimis" trade exemption that allowed small packages worth less than $800 to be exempt from tariffs ended. Data between postal operators shows that traffic dropped 81% on Aug. 29 compared to a week earlier, the union said. The UPU also said it is working on ways to get traffic flowing back to the country.

At least 88 postal operators have suspended some or all services to the United States until there is a solution, the union said.