Business mail delivery to Switzerland and the United States for commercial clients resumed partially
The new US customs regulations have significantly affected international postal services, with 88 postal services worldwide either partially or completely suspending shipments to the US since the exemption for small packages expired at the end of August.
One of the postal services feeling the brunt of these changes is the Swiss Post. The new regulations do not currently have a legally compliant customs solution for private individuals and business customers without an invoicing relationship with the Swiss Post.
In response, the Swiss Post announced a new postal shipping service for Swiss businesses, including online retailers, to comply with the new US customs regulations. The Swiss Post has adjusted its systems to ensure the necessary data and value flows for US customs authorities, and implemented additional control mechanisms for shipping postal goods to the US.
The Swiss Post's new service is intended to help Swiss businesses comply with the new US customs regulations, which require the use of the "DDP method (Delivered Duty Paid)" for postal goods shipments from abroad. This means the sender is billed for import duties.
The decrease in international letter and parcel traffic to the US is likely due to the new tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. As a result, international letter and parcel traffic to the US has decreased by more than 80% since early September.
However, the Swiss Post is working to find a compliant solution for private individuals and business customers as soon as possible. Previously, recipients in the US had to pay import duties upon receiving the goods. Under the new regulations, the sender is responsible for paying import duties for postal goods shipments from abroad.
Swiss Post coordinated with international transport partners for this change. DHL, together with its European partners, is actively working with US authorities to develop an acceptable solution for customs clearance of private and non-invoice-related shipments by post under the new US customs regulations, aiming to resume postal goods shipping to the USA as soon as possible. FedEx, DHL Express, and UPS are already equipped to handle new customs rules through existing regular customs clearance systems.
As of September 4, gifts with a value of up to 100 US dollars can again be sent to the US by post, providing some relief to those wanting to send gifts during the holiday season.
The new regulations have undeniably caused a ripple effect in the international postal industry, with many postal services worldwide having to adjust their shipping policies due to the new tariffs. The Swiss Post, in its efforts to adapt, has demonstrated a commitment to finding solutions that comply with the new regulations while minimising disruptions to its customers.
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