The General Post Office has announced that it is temporarily suspending the acceptance and dispatch of packages destined for the United States, effective immediately.
In a public notice, the GPO said this decision follows the recent issuance of Executive Order 14324 by the U.S. Government, which eliminates the duty-free “de minimis” customs exemption for international parcels valued at $800.00.
It said these new regulations, set to take effect on August 29, 2025, introduce complex customs processing requirements and new tariff structures that have not been fully clarified by U.S. authorities.
“As a result, postal operators worldwide, including ours, are unable to guarantee compliance with the new protocols and must pause shipments until further guidance is received. We join other countries, including the UK, Canada, India, France, Spain, and our fellow Caribbean countries, in temporarily suspending shipments containing goods to the US now subject to U.S. Customs Import Duty,” the notice stated.
It is advising the public to please note the following:
- Letters, documents, and personal communications not involving goods or monetary value will continue to be accepted and delivered.
“We understand the inconvenience this may cause to individuals, families, and businesses who rely on our services.
“We are actively working with regional and international partners to resolve these issues and resume full operations as soon as possible.
“Thank you for understanding and continue to trust in the General Post Office of Antigua and Barbuda,” it concluded.
Meanwhile, Post Master General, Algernon Gomes, explained that this move by the US and its impact are now being considered by the International Postal Union which is presently exploring ways to resolve the issue. He warned that if the matter is not resolved and service to the US is resumed, then there are likely to be additional costs involved in sending packages to the US. These items were once exempted.
