Customs Restrictions?

Just tried to make a purchase first from WOPA and then the French Postal Service and could not because apparently there are some new US Customs restrictions place on certain items. Has anyone else hezard of this. The price of the item is doubled from almost all dealers in the US.

A number of countries, particularly in Europe, temporally halted shipments of goods to the USA.
https://goscf.com/t/90070

It was not that USA customs blocked them, but that the new customs tariff regulations were so complex and undefined that the countries were unable to implement new procedures in time.
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/...-into-effect

If La Poste is still rejecting shipments to USA, you can try another shipping service like DHL or Fed Ex, although likely at a higher price.

Can you be more specific as to what certain items? The tariff issue for stamps has been sorted out and there are threads on this forum addressing the topic.

The only restrictions are those created by elected officials. And in the USA, law mandates that all incoming material or packages from outside the country, must have duties, taxes and fees paid prior to a package entering the US
From what I understand and know, from using the post office in Canada, any customs and state taxes have to be paid to US customs with electronic proof, even to mail the item, prior to any parcel sent to the USA. A lot of companies dont want to deal with all that extra paperwork and expense. So even if there are no duties on stamps or collections, states have to be paid their taxes on the value of incoming goods before customs and the postal systems will even accept them.
And yes you can use the other carriers but fair warning, you will not only pay the shipping fees, but also could cost extra for the carrier acting as a broker , collecting the taxes, and brokerage fee for processing and even an additional COD fee if they collect at door. Pay money owing to carrier before its out for delivery, and you avoid the COD fee.

I purchase the stamps of St. Pierre and Miquelon from La Poste in France. Pay by credit card and it is converted to Euros. Then, when package enters Canada with a customs label, through customs it is assessed and I usually have to pay my 14% provincial tax applicable to the Canadian value, plus a $9.99 collection fee which goes to the post office for collecting the money. But no customs charges on the stamps using the universal customs code applicable. I dont mind the tax as much as I hate the fee for just collecting it and passing it on.

The US government created the mess by announcing universal tariffs on top of existing tariffs and demanding they would be collected at origin. Then they clarified the universal tariffs were not so universal. They, primarily, did so to American organisations. When, finally, they managed to inform foreign authorities, some countries recommenced sending small parcels to the US,

These still require customs declaration forms. In some countries, you can fill out the forms yourself. In others, you must use an agent. And in some, they think 'Stuff it.' Chances are that when you use an ordinary envelope without a declaration, nothing will happen. But it is against regulations. However, as some here have suggested: regulations should be enforced. So, it is rather irrelevant whether the tariff is zero. If the regulations require a declaration and the postal authorities cannot be bothered with that, nothing will be sent.

This is completely false. State taxes have absolutely zero to do with this. The postal system is Federal and State taxes have never entered the picture when mailing something. Ever. States have zero connection to the USPS or CBP. Let's not make up problems that don't exist.




Nothing is different than it always has been. Attach a declaration form if required as you had to do one year ago, five years ago, ten years ago......

False. The tariff rates were published in the HTS. The HTS is how Countries know what has a tariff and how much that tariff is. All Countries use these databases. If a Country cannot be bothered with integrating that information into their system or is simply inept than that is on them.

Again, the ordinary tariffs have never been the issue. The issue were the additional tariffs that were published as additional without exception, unless specifically stated.

rogdcam: Sorry if I was not clear but the items were stamps, and the attempst were made last night and this morning so at least some of the iisues have not been worked out

rogdcam: If this is a tariff issue then neither WOPA or the French Postal service should have a problem shipping as I would have to pay the tariff assuminf it was levied by the US. And if I had to declare anything then they might have included a form rather than prohibiting me from even making the purchase with no specific reason givebn except to note the problem without any sort of explanation.

I agree with rogdcam that there is clarity, now. The claim that it always was clear is not supported by a letter posted here. Had it been clear from the outset, that letter would not have been required, especially not within the US.

It, still, requires paperwork that not all postal authorities can be bothered with. La Poste is not known for its flexibility even if most of their post office staff are very friendly and helpful.

NSK: I understand the confusion, but but assumed that the postal service sold only stamps. And it still leaves me with a follow-up but this doesn't seem to effect any dealers on Delcampe or Hipstamp. So I remain confused as neither "agency" has explained, asked for any documentation, supplied or requested any forms and purchases at Delcampe and Hipstamp go through without a hitch. I should a;so note that the WOPA site lists loads of places they won't ship, but neither does so before checkout.

It, also, could have to do with tracking. Many European philatelic orders are tracked as a lot get lost. There appear to be problems with tracking mail handled by USPS.

La Poste knows exactly how to do this. I suspect they're just being French Parisian.

Cjd: I suspect that you may be right on the attitude angle, but it's still cuttng off their nose to spite their face, not that I would ever call the French mercenary.