Post Office to Gradually Suspend Acceptance of EMS & Parcels to the US

Air Parcels Suspended from 25th, EMS Shipments Limited from 26th

US Tariff Policy Change... 15% Tariff to be Imposed from the 29th

Private Courier Services to be Used as Alternatives, But Confusion Expected

Due to changes in the US tariff policy, the acceptance of international mail destined for the United States at post offices will be gradually suspended.

However, international mail to the US can still be sent via products operated by private courier services where the recipient pays the customs duties.

The Korea Post announced on the 21st that from the 25th, the acceptance of air parcels to the US, and from the 26th, all items except documents subject to no customs duties within the International Express Mail Service (EMS) will be suspended at post office counters.

This measure will take effect from the 29th at 0:00 (local time) upon arrival in the US, when the US government's revised tariff policy is applied.

Parcels to the US sent via sea freight, which take longer to transport, have already had their acceptance suspended.

Historically, the US has exempted tariffs on goods valued at $800 or less imported from abroad.

However, from the 29th onwards, all international mail to the US, excluding documents and letters, will be subject to declaration and a 15% tariff.

The US administration announced on the 30th of last month through an executive order that it would abolish the de minimis exemption for small shipments valued under $800. This decision was made on the judgment that tax-exempt small postal items were being used as a channel for the import of illicit drugs, counterfeit goods, and other prohibited items.

Korea Post explained that due to the imposition of declaration and customs duties on all items destined for the US, there are difficulties in processing shipments within the current international postal network system, leading to the unavoidable decision to suspend acceptance.

However, Korea Post stated that items can still be shipped to the US regardless of the US tariff policy by using the 'EMS Premium' service, a jointly developed product with a private courier company.

The EMS Premium service is a product operated by a private courier company that handles customs clearance, and customs duties are imposed on the recipient.

Korea Post explained that this product can only be accepted at post offices and that there may be some price fluctuations.

For shipments exceeding 5.5 kg, EMS Premium may be more cost-effective, but for lower-weight items, the shipping fee is approximately 10% higher than that of Korea Post's EMS.

Korea Post added that it plans to prepare future countermeasures to minimize inconvenience to the public.

However, the department stated that it cannot definitively say when this measure will be applied due to the uncertainty of the tariff policy and the unknown feasibility of applying the goods declaration and tariff imposition system to the current international postal network.

Korea Post also urged users planning to send mail to the US to accurately declare the value and intended use of the goods and to prepare necessary customs clearance documents such as invoices.

Cho Hae-geun, head of Korea Post, said, "The changes in the US tariff policy have increased uncertainty for our customers. We will closely monitor related trends and make every effort to minimize public inconvenience by preparing countermeasures as quickly as possible." Yonhap News

International Air Mail [Yonhap News Photo]

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