With less than a day’s notice on Friday, the BVI Postal Service stopped shipping all mail containing goods bound for the United States and its territories until further notice.
In a statement issued the same day, the agency explained that the move followed the introduction of US Executive Order 14,324, which President Donald Trump signed on July 30.
When the order took effect on Monday, it eliminated the country’s “duty-free de minimis exemption” — a US trade rule that allowed low-value imports to be imported tax-free with streamlined customs clearance.
Now, all international parcels, regardless of value, are subject to US import duties, according to the BVI Postal Service.
“Please note that this executive order does not affect the acceptance or processing of letters and documents,” the agency stated. “The BVI Postal Service will continue to facilitate shipments of these items tothe United States without interruption.”
The agency did not explain why it did not provide advance notice of the change, and it did not predict when service may resume.
Territories
US territories affected by the suspension include the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in the Caribbean as well as American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
The BVI Postal Service said it “apologises for any inconvenience this temporary suspension may cause and thanks its customers for their understanding and continued support.”
British Caribbean News
