The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Postal Corporation (SVG Post) announced Tuesday night that it will not accept from customers, parcels and packets containing goods destined for the United States until further notice.
The decision came amidst confusion about an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump on July 30.
In a press statement emailed to the media, Jacqueline Adams Ollivierre, director of Postal Services said that Trump’s executive order eliminates the longstanding policy that allowed low-value imports (valued under $800) to enter the US duty-free.
“This applies globally, regardless of origin, transport mode, or shipping method,” Adams Ollivierre said.
She noted that the suspension takes effect at 12:01 a.m. local time on Friday, Aug. 29, whereby no incoming goods under that $800 threshold would receive automatic duty-free treatment.
“In response to the action by the USA, multiple international and regional postal operators have temporarily suspended U.S.-bound shipments containing goods amid confusion and lack of ready systems to collect duties,” Adams Ollivierre said.
“Consumers shopping from e-commerce platforms like Temu, Shein, eBay, Etsy, and Amazon may now face 10%–50% duties based on item value; flat charges of $80–$200 per item and potential delivery delays or unexpected fees.”
She said small businesses and e-commerce sellers, particularly those relying on low-cost cross-border shipping, are bracing for higher operating and shipping costs
Adams Ollivierre said SVG uses Trinidad and Tobago to transit all regional and international mail.
“TT Post has just issued an Emergency Information System through the UPU informing that only items classified as documents will be accepted.
“As a consequence, therefore, SVG Post is unable to accept from customers, parcels and packets containing goods destined for the USA until further notice,” Adams Ollivierre said.