(Temporary) Suspension Of Post To USA Containing Goods

Right animal wrong end
cheers m

The reasoning behind this has nothing to do with jobs. It is about stopping the flow of fentanyl which has been coming in through these packages. You don't have to agree with or believe the premise, but we need to get some facts straight (or as straight as possible).




https://www.whitehouse.gov/presiden...l-countries/

If that is the premise (stopping the flow of fentanyl), then they should just say that, and monitor everything for fentanyl. There are dogs that can be trained to detect this, and I'm sure that some xray equipment, possibly using AI enhancement, can effectively screen for this. By asking EVERYONE to pay a fee to ship something completely different, does not seem to be addressing the overriding issue of "stopping the flow of fentanyl". I mean, by implementing this system affecting everyone for everything shipped, does anyone seriously think that the flow of fentanyl will miraculously stop?

Why not this idea? Test a sampling of items from all countries. If ANY fentanyl is found, determine which country it originated from, then send just THAT country a huge bill for THAT country to help the USA set up a 100% screening shop for all items coming from that country. (Alternatively, that country could set up their own system for shipments to the USA, with USA agents allowed in to verify the effectiveness of their system.) Once the amount of fentanyl from that country shipped via mail drops to zero, then ease off (reduce) on the amount of screening for that individual country. If it recurs (even one shipment of fentanyl found), then re-institute USA 100% screening and charge back that country for all labor needed.

In this way, the stamp collectors of the world will celebrate our non-tariffed purchases.

A major problem which has not been brought up is that dealers and auction houses overseas who have stamps for sale will not be able to bring them into the US to sell them without paying a tariff up front. So how many are not going to show up in Boston next year because of it? And how many exhibitors will be scared off because of the time and effort it will take to prove that those stamps are not going to be sold. And I have already been told a story of a collector taking 5 hours at customs to do so recently (told the story by a dealer I know well, not the collector). BTW, the fentanyl is just an excuse anyway, not a genuine reason for any of this. I'm sure those penguins were not bringing any in.

This is the initial ebay UK guidance. It seems to assume that ebay, where customers have used the GSP, will deal with the duty issue, subject to their having relevant information. As this thread shows, that information may be more complex than ebay suggests. I find it unlikely that Royal Mail will choose to act as an unpaid agent for US customs, given the range of complexities.

"The US government has issued an executive order to eliminate the de minimis exemption for imports from all countries (the threshold below which imported goods won't need to be charged duties and taxes). The policy will go live on 29 August 2025, giving you time to prepare. It's crucial to understand how this may impact your shipments.

Additionally, new tariffs came into effect on 7 August, increasing import costs for many international shipments to the US. These changes could affect how your listings are processed through customs, the total cost for US buyers and buyer purchasing decisions.
What this means for your business
•
Duties and customs clearance: Starting 29 August, all shipments to the US—regardless of value—will be subject to applicable duties and customs clearance. Be prepared for potential changes in processing requirements.
•
Potential delays: Shipments might experience delays due to the new tariffs and increased US Customs requirements. Rest assured, ebay will protect your seller standards and service metrics from INRs (Item not received) and late deliveries caused by tariff delays. ebay will automatically adjust estimated delivery dates to reflect these changes.
•
Buyer behaviour changes: US buyers are likely to modify their shopping habits. They may pay closer attention to listings that specify "Country/Region of Manufacturer" (country of origin) to avoid unexpected import charges. Including this information prominently can enhance buyer confidence and prevent surprises.

If you're using the Global Shipping Programme
•
Enrolled members: If you're enrolled in a programme like ebay's Global Shipping Programme and have added "Country/Region of Manufacturer" (country of origin) to your listings, we'll manage these changes on your behalf. This includes handling customs paperwork, calculating duties and ensuring smooth delivery.
•
Non-enrolled members: If you're eligible but not yet using the Global Shipping Programme, you can opt in on the Global Shipping Programme preferences page.

What you can do now
•
Enhance your listings: Include the "Country/Region of Manufacture" (country of origin) in your listing aspects. This information helps US buyers anticipate potential duties and make informed purchasing decisions. Learn more about how to find "Country/Region of Manufacture" (country of origin) information.
•
Stay informed: We're actively monitoring updates from carriers and regulators and will notify you of any changes that may impact your shipping or service. Keep informed about the latest developments.
Update your listings now

We understand these changes may raise questions – and we're here to support you. Our goal is to make cross-border trade as seamless as possible, helping you to continue growing your US sales.

Thanks for being a valued part of the global ebay seller community."

IMO it goes without saying that the execution of this was either poorly thought through or this situation is what was intended to happen. I am far from an expert in customs duties, but it seems far-fetched to expect every Country to take on the burden of collecting and remitting these duties. I mean, the USPS couldn't even process duties as things were with the USPS OIG issuing a recent report saying just that. In fact, that may be the reason the buck is being passed on. There is either something deeper going on or the entire initiative is going into the waste bin. It reminds me of when highly degreed structural engineers would give us contract documents that were technically first-rate but were unbuildable. The right connections, bolt sizes and quantities and weld specs but nobody could ever access the connections in a way to execute the requirements.

Some good news for collectors, based on the Harmonized Tariff Code, once the new systems are in place and post offices overseas resume shipping.

the relevant codes are 9704 (article four in Chapter 97 of the Harmonized Tariff) and 4907 (article 7 in Chapter 49)

https://hts.usitc.gov/search?query=9704.00.00.00

https://hts.usitc.gov/search?query=4907.00.00.00

9704 deals with collectible non-current postage stamps (if I understand correctly) while 4907 deals with current postage stamps (in bulk? as unit of measurement in kg).

So I *think* the relative code for collectible stamps that most of us will deal with is 4907

In either case, there is supposed to be 0% tariff charged on philatelic items shipped from overseas into the USA.

Whether that will be followed under the new system is anyone's guess. But it *should* be based on the harmonized tariff code.

This also means that if platforms such as ebay create auto-charging for tariffs the way they do for sales tax, then they should NOT be charging any tariff on purchases of philatelic material.

DJCMHOH - the problem is that the that tariffs I looked at a few months back (they have changed multiple times since then) said to add the new tariff rate to the existing HTC rate. So a zero rated item would have a rate of 0% plus the new country rate (say 20%) and thus would be subject to the new tariff rate (0%+20%=20%). This may be corrected when the rates are implemented. However, you can't rely on just the HTS rates.

Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany said it was temporarily suspending parcel delivery for business customers to the US from Saturday, as "key questions remain unresolved" about how duties would be paid, and by whom.

DHL sad it was "closely monitoring the further developments" and remained in contact with US authorities, and said shipping via its DHL Express services "remains possible".

"The company's goal is to resume postal goods shipping to the US as quickly as possible," it said.


https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2p17xypgko

Correct and explained here:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presiden...ariff-rates/

It probably has a lot to do with the volume of de minimis packages into the US increasing from 150 million to 1.4 billion a year as China uses this means to move small individual quantities of fentanyl into the Country, flooding the zone.

I suppose you could punish Countries other than China instead of dealing with the actual transgressor.

A one-country sanction would just cause China to transship through Mexico or some other country, likely multiple countries.

Quote:
So a zero rated item would have a rate of 0% plus the new country rate (say 20%) and thus would be subject to the new tariff rate (0%+20%=20%).
In other words, when americans are buying from an auction house, in another country, there could be a buyers premium (often 15-20%) plus a Trump premium (country of origin tarif).

Yes, plus possible customs processing fees depending on how the lots are shipped (post vs. FedEx or other courier (DHL etc.) and whether the shipper pre-pays the tariffs.

"If that is the premise (stopping the flow of fentanyl), then they should just say that, and monitor everything for fentanyl. "
That costs money and since they don't know which ones are going to have contraband (fentanyl, other drugs, counterfeits), they have to check everything or at least more than they have been checking, so we all bear the cost.