Recently introduced US customs tariffs and unclear customs procedures have forced Estonian postal company Omniva to temporarily suspend parcel deliveries to the US, ERR News reports.
Omniva Group acting commercial director Sven Kukemelk explained that, starting from the 20th of August, customers from Estonia and Latvia temporarily will not be able to send parcels with products, gifts and the like to the US using Omniva. He added that sending letters and documents will continue as before.
Parcel deliveries have been temporarily suspended because the US has made changes to customs legislation that affect both import tariffs and customs procedures for importing parcels. The so-called de minimis threshold, that is, the value below which a parcel is not subject to customs duties and taxes, has been changed. Customs procedures have also changed, but guidelines are still not fully developed. As a result,
Omniva cannot guarantee that shipments will reach their recipients successfully.
Kukemelk said that Omniva has done everything possible to find a solution to the confusing situation to continue sending packages to the US, but the company has now come to the point where it must wait for better cooperation from the US. “We will resume sending parcels to the U.S. as soon as we can guarantee reliable and compliant delivery again,” the company’s acting commercial director added.
The changes in US legislation affect delivery service providers around the world, and many have taken similar steps to mitigate potential complications until the Americans provide clarity on the correct course of action.
Shipping services are expected to become more expensive due to the import tariffs applied by the US.
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