Since the US on 29 August has abolished the so-called minimis exemption regime for shipments with a value lower than 800 dollars, the international mail traffic to the US has fallen back by 81%, the Universal Postunie (UPU) reports. 88 Postal companies, including Bpost, PostNL and Deutsche Post, have partially or completely suspended such shipments to the US until there is a solution. Carriers and airlines are not willing to take responsibility for collecting and settling customs duties.
The UPU, a UN organization for global postal cooperation, has now rolled out a first solution. Via a Landed-Cost Calculator, available via an API, post operators can collect the customs duties due directly from the customer from 5 September upon shipment.
According to UPU director-general Masahiko Metoki, this is a crucial step to guarantee the free circulation of mail items. In the short term, the UPU will also integrate functionality in its customs Declaration System (CDS), which is already used by 176 post operators. In addition, additional tools are provided to enable data transfer and payment of rights to recognized parties.
