In a dramatic move that has sent shockwaves through the British e-commerce sector, Royal Mail has abruptly suspended all parcel services to the United States. The decision, effective immediately, is a direct response to a new wave of punitive import tariffs imposed by the United States, which the postal service has deemed commercially unviable.
A Sudden Halt to Transatlantic Trade
The suspension impacts a critical artery for UK businesses, from small eBay sellers to major retailers, who rely on affordable postal services to reach the vast American market. Services including International Standard, International Tracked & Signed, and Royal Mail Tracked 48 to the US have all been indefinitely halted.
A statement from Royal Mail pointed to the new US tax regime as the sole cause: "The US has implemented new customs rules... resulting in a significant increase in the cost of shipping items to the US. As a result, we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily suspend all our international parcel services to the US."
Why This Impacts British Businesses
For countless UK SMEs and online entrepreneurs, Royal Mail's services were the most cost-effective method for fulfilling orders from American customers. This suspension creates a sudden and significant barrier to trade, forcing businesses to scramble for alternative, often more expensive, courier options like DHL, FedEx, or UPS.
The new US tariffs mean that for any parcel valued over a specific threshold, the recipient—or the sender—could be faced with unexpected and hefty import duties and handling fees. Royal Mail's move suggests the administrative and financial burden of managing these new costs has become too great.
What Services Are Affected?
- International Standard (untracked letters and parcels)
- International Tracked & Signed
- Royal Mail Tracked 48
Customers are being urged not to attempt to post any items destined for the US through Royal Mail, as they will be refused at Post Office branches or returned to sender.
Looking for Alternatives and Awaiting a Resolution
While other private courier firms remain an option, their premium pricing is unlikely to be sustainable for sellers of lower-value goods, effectively pricing them out of the US market. The industry now watches to see if this suspension will prompt urgent diplomatic or commercial discussions between the UK and US to find a resolution and reopen this vital trade lane.
For now, the message to British businesses is clear: the era of cheap and simple shipping to the United States is, for the moment, over.
