CTT suspends some postal services to the US amid policy reversal

Macau’s postal service, Correios e Telecomunicações (CTT), announced the suspension of several postal services to the United States, including small packages and surface mail parcels.

The move came in response to the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) temporary halt on accepting international parcels from China and Hong Kong, a restriction that also applied to shipments from Macau.

The suspended services specifically impacted express-cargo deliveries to the US state of Illinois.

However, the Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau clarified in a statement last night that services for letters, documents, and airmail—including small packages, parcels, and express mail—would continue operating normally for all other US destinations.

Yesterday, however, in a swift reversal, the US rescinded the ban just one day after implementing it. The USPS had initially announced Tuesday that it would no longer accept parcels from China and Hong Kong following the US government’s decision to impose an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods.

The move also ended a customs exemption that previously allowed low-value parcels to enter the US without paying tax.

According to a report from the Associated Press, the USPS did not provide a reason for the reversal but stated that it would collaborate with Customs and Border Protection to implement a collection process for the new China tariffs, ensuring that delivery disruptions are minimized.

The initial ban had the potential to cause massive disruptions for online shopping platforms like Shein and Temu, which have gained popularity among younger US consumers for offering inexpensive clothing and other products shipped directly from China.

Cheap, direct postal service has helped these companies keep costs low, along with the “de minimis” exemption that previously allowed shipments valued under USD800 to enter the US tax-free. More.