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![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/4359476_web1_21584237_CANADA-POST-STRIKE-20160629.JPG\")
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Paul Chiasson \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
Canada Post says it\u2019s not accepting parcels destined for a dozen European Union countries until further notice.<\/p>\n
Effective July 1, the European Union is introducing a customs duty on parcels worth up to 150 euros, or about $240, imported from outside the bloc.<\/p>\n
The Council of the EU website says a three-euro duty ($4.85) will be charged per item category.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor example, if a parcel contains two toys, one woolen coat and three bottles of shampoo, the duty is calculated per category of goods. Each product type forms one category, and a 3 euro duty applies to each. With three categories, the total duty comes to 9 euros,\u201d the website says.<\/p>\n
It says many parcels are undervalued or falsely declared to avoid customs duties, while current rules give non-EU sellers an \u201cunfair advantage\u201d over businesses that manufacture or sell products in the European Union.<\/p>\n
Canada Post says it will continue accepting shipments to other EU destinations while it works to implement compliant solutions in the affected markets.<\/p>\n
On Friday, a Manitoba author said the stoppage in service will have wide-reaching implications for business owners and individuals.<\/p>\n
Volker Beckmann, who has lived in Thompson since 1959, said he was trying to send two of his books to Italy when he was told by a Canada Post employee the system was down. He was advised to price out the package from his home computer.<\/p>\n
However, after having no luck, he was told in a chat by Canada Post customer service that the package would go nowhere because parcel shipments to Europe had been paused.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel it\u2019s unacceptable,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s frustrating, obviously, and very disconcerting to say you can\u2019t send a package to Europe anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Canada Post detailed the loss of service on its website, but didn\u2019t issue a news release to media outlets.<\/p>\n
Beckmann, who is vice-president of the Thompson Chamber of Commerce, said he\u2019s frustrated he had to hear about the change from Canada Post support, as opposed to the post office employee, saying Canada Post has a responsibility to inform its customers about major changes.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
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\u201cI\u2019m certainly looking forward to some kind of solution as soon as possible,\u201d he said. \u201cBut again, it comes to the question: \u2018is the public being informed?\u2019 of the conditions, or the ramifications, so that everybody can make alternative arrangements.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phil Legault, a spokesperson with Canada Post, confirmed there is a disruption to certain European countries, but did not respond to a followup question as to why there was no news release or mass notification issued on the change. Something Beckmann called a \u201clack of communication\u201d on Canada Post\u2019s part.<\/p>\n
Beckmann said he\u2019ll be making his chamber of commerce counterparts aware of the changes, saying he expects the effect of the service disruption to be widespread.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s got to be a whole bunch of other people greatly affected in a negative way, more than me trying to sell two books to somebody in Italy.\u201d<\/p>\n
morgan.modjeski@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n
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