Great news for those sending packages and mail to the United States! India Post has announced that it will be fully resuming all categories of international postal services to the US starting October 15th. This decision comes after a temporary suspension of services for nearly two months, which was put in place due to recent changes in American customs duties and regulations.
The Department of Posts (DoP) confirmed that services, including Express Mail Service, air parcels, registered letters, and tracked packets, will be available again from all post offices, International Business Centres, and Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras.
Starting this Wednesday, India Post will implement a new Delivery Duty Paid (DDP) mechanism. This system is designed to comply with the rules set by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Under the DDP system, applicable customs duties, fixed at a flat rate of 50% of the declared free-on-board (FOB) value, will be collected in India when the item is booked. This amount will then be directly remitted to the CBP. Importantly, letters, documents, and gifts valued up to $100 will continue to be exempt from these duties.
This new duty structure is expected to significantly lower costs for Indian exporters. By making the postal channel a more cost-effective and competitive option, it aims to benefit MSMEs, artisans, small traders, and e-commerce businesses looking to reach the US market.
LK Dash, deputy director general (IR & GB), highlighted that while Indian exporters will initially pay the 50% US duty upfront, the ultimate cost will be borne by the US buyers. He added that India Post remains a more affordable choice compared to private courier companies, even with the new duty collection process.
The Department has partnered with US-based e-commerce logistics firm Yakit, which will act as India’s authorized partner for collecting and remitting export duties. While Yakit charges a nominal fee per shipment, India Post has committed to not passing this cost on to customers, meaning existing postage rates will remain unchanged. The DoP emphasized that no additional fees will be charged for facilitating these DDP payments, ensuring a smoother and more predictable process for all users.
The suspension, which began on August 29th, was a direct result of an executive order from the Trump administration that removed the de minimis exemption, previously allowing goods up to $800 to enter the US duty-free. This change necessitated the development of new systems for duty collection, leading many postal operators, including India Post, to temporarily halt shipments.
The DoP views the resumption of services to the US as a major step forward in strengthening India’s international logistics capabilities and supporting national initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP).