The Universal Postal Union (UPU) announced the rollout of a comprehensive customs compliance solution to help postal operators adapt to the new U.S. import regime following the 29 August suspension of the duty-free de minimis exemption. The measure, which eliminated duty-free entry for low-value parcels, has caused a sharp decline in inbound mail to the United States. According to UPU data, volumes on 3 October were still 70.7% lower than the week before the rule change, showing only a modest 10-point recovery from the 81% drop recorded immediately after implementation.

“Postal services are essential services,” said Lati Matata, Director of the UPU’s Postal Technology Centre. “The UPU is now launching a fully-fledged solution that will allow every postal operator in its network – no matter how big or small – to meet customs requirements to ensure that citizens worldwide, including US citizens, receive their postal items.”

The new system builds on the interim application programming interface (API) introduced on 5 September, which enabled postal operators with retail and counter services to calculate and collect duties at the point of origin. The fully-fledged version now integrates with the UPU’s Customs Declaration System (CDS), already in use by 176 postal operators worldwide. This expanded platform allows postal operators to calculate, collect, and remit duties directly to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), supported by a customer-facing interface for transparency and ease of use.

So far, only a few postal operators have resumed sending mail to the United States, reflecting the complexity of adapting to the new customs requirements. The UPU is prioritizing the rapid deployment of its upgraded solution to ensure operational continuity and restore global postal connectivity. The initiative underscores the organization’s commitment to maintaining the universal service principle and ensuring that cross-border mail remains accessible, reliable, and compliant under evolving trade regulations.