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The
announcement follows similar moves by postal services from the
European Union and several other countries to pause shipping as
they await more clarity on the U.S. measure. It also comes
during monthslong negotiations between the Mexican government
and the Trump administration to avoid wider tariffs.
The exemption — known as the “ de minimis” exemption, which
allows packages worth less than $800 to come into the U.S. duty
free — is ending Friday. A total of 1.36 billion packages were
sent in 2024 under this exemption, for goods worth $64.6
billion, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border
Protection.
Mexico’s government said its postal service, Correos de Mexico,
will temporarily suspend package deliveries to the U.S.,
starting Wednesday.
“Mexico continues its dialogue with U.S. authorities and
international postal organizations to define mechanisms that
will allow for the orderly resumption of services, providing
certainty to users and avoiding setbacks in the delivery of
goods,” the statement read.
With the announcement, Mexico joins several European and other
countries, including Australia and Japan, in suspending the
shipments to the U.S. amid confusion over new import duties.
Yunnueth Hernández brought her two children to the post office
Wednesday to send a letter to a relative in the U.S., to show
them “how we used to communicate” before emails and internet,
but left disappointed.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't send it because they told us with
the tariffs, shipments to the U.S. were canceled,” she said.
Outside the building, a woman was in tears after being unable to
send a 10-page letter and photographs to her boyfriend in the
U.S.
Mexico has tried to negotiate with U.S. President Donald Trump
to avoid increased tariffs by taking more aggressive security
measures against the country's drug cartels and sending dozens
of imprisoned cartel figures to the U.S. for prosecution.
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Associated Press videojournalist Fernanda Pesce in Mexico City
contributed to this report.
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