by croatiaweek
August 23, 2025
in
(Photo: Croatian Post)
ZAGREB, 23 August 2025 (Hina) – Croatian Post (HP) has announced that from 26 August it will suspend the acceptance of all shipments containing commercial goods destined for the United States, regardless of their value.
The only exceptions will be letters and “gifts” sent from private individuals in Croatia to private individuals in the US, up to a total value of 100 US dollars.
The decision follows a new executive order by the United States which suspends duty-free “de minimis” treatment for goods sent in postal shipments. The regulation comes into force on 29 August.
Until now, goods and low-value gifts could be imported into the US without customs duties thanks to the so-called de minimis threshold, which stood at 800 US dollars.
Under the new rules, all goods imported into the US will be subject to customs duties, regardless of their value or country of origin.
“This measure will significantly affect postal companies worldwide and their users who send parcels through postal networks to the United States Postal Service (USPS),” Croatian Post explained in a statement.
The company reminded senders that they are solely responsible for filling out customs declarations (CN23) correctly and accurately declaring the contents of parcels. HP also underlined that it cannot be held responsible for errors in customs paperwork or for how shipments are handled once they arrive in the US.
HP also shared a statement from PostEurop, the association of European public postal operators, of which it is a member. PostEurop said it is closely monitoring the developments in the US and working hard to find solutions to ensure the continued shipment of goods to America for both business and private customers.
Regional impact
Postal operators in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including “BH Pošta” and “Pošte Srpske”, have also announced the suspension of all shipments to the United States due to the new customs regulations.
They described the halt as temporary, citing difficulties in adapting to the new customs and tariff rules. Partner airlines have also stopped accepting international shipments bound for the US.
“BH Pošta” and “Pošte Srpske” said they are actively seeking solutions to enable the resumption of shipments to the United States once technological systems are aligned with the new regulations.
The move comes against the backdrop of broader trade tensions. Since 1 August 2025, the United States has imposed 30% tariffs on all products imported from Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the Trump administration’s reciprocal trade policy.
Elsewhere in Europe, several major postal operators, including Germany’s DHL, have already announced similar measures, suspending most deliveries to the US. Postal services across Europe say they are working on solutions to adapt to the new American rules.
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