Hongkong Post halts shipments to US after tariff hikes

Key Takeaways

• Hongkong Post suspends all goods parcels to the United States after new tariffs and postal fees introduced by President Trump.
• All package mail, except documents, stopped April 16 (surface) and April 27 (airmail); $100–$200 US postal fees per parcel.
• Small businesses, immigrants, and online buyers face higher costs, disrupted shipments, and potential loss of US market access.

Hongkong Post has announced that it will stop sending goods to the United States 🇺🇸, pointing directly to President Trump’s new set of tariff hikes. This sudden halt impacts both businesses and regular people in Hong Kong 🇭🇰 who rely on international mail for sending packages overseas, especially for small online businesses. It shows just how far-reaching trade decisions from the top can affect regular postal customers and the global movement of goods.

What Happened and Why?

On April 16, 2025, Hongkong Post made a public statement: all surface mail—meaning parcels sent by sea or land—with goods bound for the United States 🇺🇸 would stop right away. The same goes for airmail parcels, but that stop starts a bit later on April 27. The only exception for now is mail that contains just documents, like letters or paperwork. Those can still be sent to the United States 🇺🇸 with no problem.

Hongkong Post explained their main reason very clearly. They called the new rules by the United States 🇺🇸 “unreasonable,” “bullying,” and “abusive.” The United States 🇺🇸 government has brought in bigger tariffs—taxes at the border—on goods coming from Hong Kong 🇭🇰 and China 🇨🇳. There are also new postal fees. These changes hit hard on sellers who send goods directly to buyers, especially when they use the “de minimis” rule. That rule used to let parcels under $800 enter the United States 🇺🇸 without paying these taxes or tariffs.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, the so-called “de minimis” rule has now been changed by President Trump’s government. All parcels, no matter how small or cheap, will now face extra charges and paperwork. This move is aimed mostly at stopping Chinese and Hong Kong 🇭🇰 e-commerce sellers, like those on Shein or Temu, from sending small-value goods to American customers without paying border taxes.

New Tariff Rules: What’s Different?

• No More Duty-Free (De Minimis) Treatment: Before, if a package to the United States 🇺🇸 was worth less than $800, it would usually enter without paying taxes or border fees. That ended with the latest rules.
• Huge Tariff Increases: Tariffs on Hong Kong 🇭🇰 and China 🇨🇳 goods are now up to 145%. This means a $100 item could cost $245 by the time it gets to an American buyer.
• New Postal Charges: The United States 🇺🇸 added a postal fee of $100 per parcel starting May 2, and that will double to $200 after June 1, making it much more expensive to send or receive packages.

Hongkong Post’s main complaint is about being asked to collect tariffs for the United States 🇺🇸 on top of these new fees. They flatly refused, saying they will not act as a tax collector for another country.

Timeline of Service Suspensions

For people who already mailed parcels that have not been shipped yet, Hongkong Post said it will begin contacting those senders on April 22. The goal is to return the items and refund the postage.

Ripple Effects on Global Trade and Immigration

These postal changes have sparked bigger worries across trade and immigration circles. Hong Kong 🇭🇰 is known as a busy global trade hub, with thousands of small businesses running online shops and sending goods overseas. Many people in the immigration and global mobility field are watching this closely, because it raises questions like:

• What happens when cross-border e-commerce gets blocked?
• Will other countries respond by shutting US-bound goods as well?
• Could this affect how companies move goods—and even people—between countries?

For many years, the postal system let small businesses—sometimes even families—send goods straight to buyers in different countries. Online shopping sites from Hong Kong 🇭🇰 often offered easier, cheaper shipping to the United States 🇺🇸 because of the “de minimis” rule. Without it, these cross-border connections may weaken, affecting both buyers and sellers.

Historical Trade Context: How Did We Get Here?

Trade between Hong Kong 🇭🇰, China 🇨🇳, and the United States 🇺🇸 has often been tense, especially since President Trump started placing tariffs on Chinese goods years ago. When the United States 🇺🇸 raised its tariffs again, China 🇨🇳 responded with tariffs up to 125% on American products.

However, Hong Kong 🇭🇰 stayed neutral until now. The suspension of postal goods marks Hong Kong’s first big move to match these types of trade restrictions from the United States 🇺🇸.

Direct Hits to Businesses and Immigrants

This isn’t just a fight between big governments. It directly interrupts many parts of daily life, especially for people moving between Hong Kong 🇭🇰 and the United States 🇺🇸:

• E-commerce Sellers: Many small sellers and online shops ship products like clothing, gadgets, or gifts directly from Hong Kong 🇭🇰 warehouses to friends, family, or customers in the United States 🇺🇸. These businesses now face new costs and hurdles, and some may be forced to shut down or lay off workers.
• Immigrants and Students: Immigrants who left Hong Kong 🇭🇰 for the United States 🇺🇸 often rely on affordable parcel services to receive care packages or important goods from home. With mail suspended, it’s now much harder for families to send personal items across the ocean.
• Import/Export Companies: Larger companies already pay regular tariffs anyway, but the new postal ban could still impact logistics, timelines, and trust in the mail system.

Wider Implications for Cross-Border Mail

This action could change how e-commerce works worldwide. Here’s why:

• Shipping Costs Will Rise: The new fees from the United States 🇺🇸, added to the Hong Kong 🇭🇰 ban, mean customers must pay more for the same product.
• Delay or Total Stop of Small Shipments: Without cheap postal services, only big shipments through expensive freight companies may continue.
• Online Shopping Becomes Harder: Sites like Shein and Temu will need to find new ways to ship small goods to American buyers—if they can at all.

Does This Affect All Types of Mail?

No, regular letters and document-only mail are not affected by the new rules. If you want to send paperwork or a simple letter to someone in the United States 🇺🇸, you can still do so through Hongkong Post.

But any parcel holding goods—even a simple scarf, a small gadget, or a pair of shoes—can no longer be sent, at least for now. This puts extra pressure on people separating personal and business mail.

Why Is Hongkong Post Taking This Stand?

In its official statement, Hongkong Post refused to carry out the new United States 🇺🇸 requirements. The company said collecting the US government’s new fees and tariffs for parcels mailed out of Hong Kong 🇭🇰 is unfair and not its role. Hongkong Post said these rules could hurt the reputation and business of postal services—not just in Hong Kong 🇭🇰, but all over the world.

They emphasized that it is not right to force another country’s postal service to collect money for a foreign government. This is the first time Hongkong Post has taken such a strong position against United States 🇺🇸 policies.

What Comes Next?

Unless the governments involved change their policies or reach a new deal, these mail suspensions could last for months or even longer. People waiting for their parcels may need refunds or to find new ways to ship. Online shops will likely see their US sales drop and may begin looking for new markets.

For regular people, the loss of parcel services may force them to pay higher shipping costs with private companies or look for other ways to stay connected with friends and family across borders.

How Can You Stay Updated?

If you are planning to send a parcel, or if you are worried about an order already on its way, check the latest updates directly with Hongkong Post. Their website regularly posts changes to services and helps find solutions for affected mail.

For many, especially those who have moved from Hong Kong 🇭🇰 to the United States 🇺🇸, these shifts are personal and stressful. Many will hope for a quick solution between the two governments to avoid cutting off vital connections for business, study, and family.

Summary: What You Need to Know

• Hongkong Post stopped sending parcels with goods to the United States 🇺🇸 in answer to high tariffs and postal fees set by President Trump.
• Only mail with documents or letters is not affected.
• The biggest losers are small businesses, immigrants, and families who rely on affordable cross-border postage.
• Unless the policy changes, this suspension could continue for a long time, making e-commerce and family connections harder.

Watch for future announcements from Hongkong Post, look for updates from the United States 🇺🇸 government, and consider checking news from trusted sources like VisaVerge.com for thorough analysis on how global changes in trade rules may affect immigration and daily life for millions.

The effects of these postal suspensions go beyond lost packages—they show just how closely tied together tariffs, international politics, and the flow of people and goods have become. For anyone caught in the middle, understanding these changes is key to finding new ways to connect and do business across the world.

Learn Today

Tariff → A government-imposed tax on imported or exported goods. Tariffs often raise prices for buyers and impact trade flows.
De Minimis Rule → A US policy allowing goods under $800 to enter duty-free; recently removed, leading to increased postal fees and tariffs.
Surface Mail → Shipping method using sea or land routes. Usually slower but more affordable for parcels than airmail.
Airmail → Postal service transporting mail by air, offering faster delivery but generally higher costs than surface mail methods.
E-commerce → Electronic buying and selling of goods online, often across borders, using platforms like Shein, Temu, or other marketplaces.

This Article in a Nutshell

Hongkong Post’s halt of goods shipments to the US highlights the real-world fallout from tariff wars. New US rules now require tariffs and fees on all postal parcels, disrupting small businesses, immigrant families, and online shoppers. Only letter mail is unaffected, with no solution in sight for affected global trade links.
— By VisaVerge.com

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