Several Asia-Pacific countries suspend postal service to US due to tariff change

​​​​​​​By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) - New Zealand Post announced Friday that some shipping forms to the US have been suspended, including to American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, according to New Zealand Radio.

Economy letters and documents sent via express are the only services still available.

The move follows several Asia-Pacific nations temporarily halting postal services to the US due to a change in the American tariff policy.

South Korean postal service said Thursday that air freight packages bound for US addresses would no longer be accepted beginning Monday, and postal service for parcels sent via Express Mail Service would also be suspended.

Australia said Thursday that some forms of shipping to the US would be suspended, including transit service and transit items containing goods.

Singapore announced Tuesday that postal service for packages sent via Singapore Post would be halted Monday, with letters, documents with no declared value, still allowed to be sent to the US by normal post.

The Japanese postal service warned Tuesday of potential delays or returned packages because of the policy change.

Hong Kong’s postal service said in April it would stop handling packages coming from or going to the US.

The decisions come ahead of Washington ending the de minimis exemption, which allows parcels valued at $800 or less to enter the US without tariffs.

Starting Aug. 29, barring any last-minute change in US policy, all international shipments will face a 15% tariff.​​​​​​​