USPS International Rate Changes Approved The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) late on Friday  issued its order  approving the Postal Service's proposed rate and classification changes as scheduled, effective January 18, 2026. the PRC approved the two classification changes in the filing, which both impact international services. The 13-page narrative of the order is dedicated to addressing these classification changes, as well as IMAG comments to the commission. IMAG had ur

The Council of the European Union (Council)   agreed  to apply a fixed customs duty of €3 on small parcels valued at less than €150 entering the EU, effective July 1, 2026. It will apply to all goods arriving from non-EU sellers registered in the EU’s import one-stop shop (IOSS) for value-added tax purposes. The duty would apply per product type, based on six-digit tariff codes. With the duty fee assessed at the HS code level and not at the package/shipment level, it means a

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says in a recent  news release  that it has collected over $1 billion in duties on more than 246 million low-cost shipments since the administration began phasing out the de minimis loophole in May 2025 (China and Hong Kong on May 2 and the rest of the world on August 29), “recovering a record amount of revenue that had previously gone uncollected.” Since de minimis ended for China and Hong Kong, CBP seizures of unsafe and non-compliant low

The International Mailers Advisory Group (IMAG) submitted  comments  to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) in the competitive products rate and classification case, urging the regulator to issue a timely ruling.   The Postal Service submitted a filing on November 14 to raise rates on its competitive products and to make classification changes on two international products. USPS set an effective date of January 18, 2026, for the new rates to take effect. IMAG’s comments re

On November 14 the Postal Service  filed  with the Postal Regulatory Commission proposed price changes on its competitive products, including the published prices for its international products. The new prices would take effect on January 18, 2026. USPS is not raising prices on its market-dominant products (Mailing Services) in January, so First-Class Mail International will not change. However, international products that are part of the competitive products category, which

IMAG Executive Director Kate Muth gave listeners of the Postal Hub Podcast an update on tariffs, de minimis, and international low value parcels during the November 11 episode ( Episode 382 ). The discussion touched on the recent Supreme Court oral arguments regarding the tariffs case, as well as other issues of interest to international mailers and shippers, such as low value goods in the international postal stream and EU customs reforms and parcel fees.

The European Commission has confirmed that the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will go ahead without delay. Large businesses must comply from December 30, 2025, with a six-month grace period before fines are enforced, while micro and small enterprises follow from 30 December 2026, the Woodland Group  reported .   Where authorities identify potential non-compliance before these dates, they will issue warnings and recommendations to help operators achieve full co

The Postal Service has posted the overview of its proposed January 2026 changes, a document  that   describes the product and classification changes in its next structural implementation. It includes two international product changes: elimination of International Surface Airlift (ISAL) and M-bags as an optional service. USPS explains that ISAL is similar to its International Priority Airlift (IPA) product, and in some cases, ISAL is priced higher than IPA. The changes to the

As the calendar inches Americans closer to the holiday shopping season, many businesses are becoming more explicit about price increases as they move to offset the higher cost of imported goods. Official data and statements from companies indicate accelerating price increases, especially from companies that are dependent on imported goods or inputs now that many companies have sold off inventories, the  Financial Times   reported . In the six months leading up to August, pri

Canada Post is open for business again. The crown corporation informed   other countries’ postal operators that they could resume sending mail effective October 13, now that the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has moved from a full national strike to rotating strikes. The union  announced  last week that it would move to rotating strikes on October 11 so that mail and parcels could start moving again while the parties continued to work on a collective bargaining agre

As the Canada Post strike enters its second week, Canada Post President and CEO Doug Ettinger sent a  letter  to all Canadians...

Nearly one month after the end of the de minimis exemption, foreign postal operators continue to struggle to meet the new rules for...

Days after the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) said it would stop delivering unaddressed direct mail, Canada Post said it will...

Effective September 1, to reflect revisions to the Regulations of the Universal Postal Convention, the Postal Service will require a...

Canada Post and CUPW returned to the bargaining table Friday, August 15 with the assistance of federal mediators, according to  reports ....

President Trump signed an Executive Ord er  on July 30 that will suspend the de minimis exemption for all countries, effective August 29....

IMAG's June 2025 infographic - part of our Facts & Figures series - delivers some basic facts about tariffs, de minimis, and the postal...

The U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors announced on May 9 that they have chosen David Steiner to be the next Postmaster General and...

President Trump's tariff announcement on April 2 has put reciprocal tariffs on 60 countries (April 9) and a baseline tariff of 10 percent...

IMAG’s Executive Director Kate Muth and Ellen McClain, special advisor to International Bridge, talk about reforming de minimis parcels...