The Department of Posts, India on Saturday said it will temporarily halt all mail services to the United States starting Aug. 25, following updates in U.S. customs regulations set to take effect later this month.
“The Department of Posts has decided to temporarily suspend booking of all types of postal articles destined for the USA with effect from 25th August, 2025, except letters/documents and gift items up to $100 in value,” the press release said.
This move comes after the U.S. issued Executive Order No. 14324 on July 30, which eliminates the duty-free exemption for shipments valued at $800 or less. Consequently, Indian authorities have been notified by air carriers that shipments destined for the U.S. cannot be accepted after Aug. 25, citing operational constraints.
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The department also noted that customers with items already booked for delivery to the U.S. can claim a refund for postage. It said it is “closely monitoring the evolving situation in coordination with all stakeholders, and every effort is being made to normalize services at the earliest possible opportunity.”
The temporary postal halt adds to rising trade tensions, following President Donald Trump’s recent imposition of a 25% tariff on Indian goods and an additional 25% levy on Russian oil imports, effectively doubling the total tariff impact.
While on Sunday, India’s ambassador to Moscow, Vinay Kumar, told Russian news agency TASS that India would continue purchasing oil “from wherever it gets the best deal,” irrespective of the United States imposing punitive tariffs in response to the New Delhi’s imports of Russian crude oil. According to Kumar, Washinton’s retaliation is “unfair, unreasonable and unjustified.”
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Kumar stated, “first of all, we have clearly stated that our objective is the energy security of 1.4 billion people. India’s cooperation with Russia, as with several other countries, has helped to bring stability to the global oil market. The U.S. decision is unfair… the government will continue taking measures to protect national interests,” per Times of India.
He further underlines that “if the basis of trade is right, Indian companies will continue buying from wherever they get the best deal. That is the current situation.” Standing firm on this call, Kumar said, “the trade is based on market realities, not political dictates.”
Earlier on Friday, President Trump warned of new tariffs on imported furniture, announcing that his administration will open an investigation into the sector. Trump posted on his social platform Truth, “we are doing a major Tariff Investigation on Furniture coming into the United States.”
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“Within the next 50 days, that investigation will be completed,” Trump added. He noted that the exact tariff rate for furniture has not been determined yet, but defended the move as a way to revive the furniture industry in states such as North Carolina, South Carolina, and Michigan.
According to government data, the furniture and related products manufacturing sector in the U.S. employed more than 340,000 people as of July, roughly half the workforce recorded in 2000, as NDTV World reports. Major sources of furniture imports into the U.S. include China and Vietnam.
In 2024, the U.S. imported furniture valued at $25.5 billion, according to trade publication Furniture Today. Trump’s latest announcement represents his continued focus on specific industries, following earlier tariffs on steel, aluminum, automobiles, and other goods this year. The administration has also opened multiple probes into imports of pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, critical minerals, and other items, citing concerns over their impact on national security.