The U.S. Postal Service reversed course Wednesday, saying it would continue to accept all inbound mail and packages from China and Hong Kong.
One day earlier, the USPS said it wouldn’t be accepting parcels from China and Hong Kong after the U.S. imposed an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods and ended a customs exception that allowed small value parcels to enter the U.S. without paying tax.
The USPS said Wednesday that it was working with Customs and Border Protection to implement a collection process for the new China tariffs to avoid delivery disruptions.
Canada and Mexico managed to negotiate a monthlong reprieve from 25% tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump.
What exactly did the USPS announce?
The U.S. Postal Service said in a notice that it would temporarily stop accepting inbound parcels from the China and Hong Kong Posts until further notice.
Letters and flats — mail that measures up to 15 inches (38 centimeters) long or 3/4 inches (1.9 centimeters) thick — were not affected.
Hours later, the USPS amended the guidance and said it would accept all inbound mail and packages from China and Hong Kong.
Why did it happen?
The USPS did not state a reason in a brief announcement, but the suspension came after Trump closed the “de minimis” customs exemption this week that allowed shoppers and importers to avoid duties on packages worth below $800.
The exemption was removed as part of an executive order to levy a 10% tariff on Chinese goods.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection previously stated that it processes an average of over four million “de minimis” imports each week.
