Vienna — Austrian Post will suspend most parcel deliveries to the United States, including Puerto Rico, starting August 26, the company announced Thursday. Customers have until August 25 to send items before the suspension takes effect, reported by Austrian News Agency.
The decision, described as temporary, stems from recent changes to U.S. customs rules that have disrupted international shipping. “The exemption allowing goods under $800 to enter the United States duty- and tax-free has been abolished,” the postal operator said. “At the same time, postal clearance procedures have been altered, and sufficient information about the future requirements is not yet available.”
The move effectively halts standard package shipments to America, though several exceptions remain. Private gifts worth under $100 will still be accepted, provided they are marked as gifts, while document mail remains unaffected. Goods sent through the premium “Post Express International” service can also continue, as they fall under different customs clearance procedures.
Austrian Post’s CEO, Walter Oblin, acknowledged earlier this summer that while shipments to the U.S. number in the six figures annually, the company’s overall exposure to American trade remains limited. Still, he noted that the tightening customs regime under President Donald Trump poses challenges not just for Austria, but for postal operators worldwide.
Indeed, Austria is not alone. Several other European postal services—including Norway’s Posten Bring, Sweden and Denmark’s PostNord, and Belgium’s bpost—announced similar suspensions this week, underscoring the broad impact of Washington’s policy shift.
For now, Austrian Post insists the suspension is a stopgap, not a permanent withdrawal. “This is a temporary measure,” the company said, adding that it hopes to resume normal operations once customs procedures are clarified.
The development highlights how regulatory shifts in one of the world’s largest markets can ripple across global trade. For thousands of Austrians who regularly ship to the U.S.—from small businesses to families sending care packages—the pause is a stark reminder of how geopolitics and bureaucracy can collide with everyday life.
