Group 1 - The Russian Post announced the suspension of parcel services to the United States starting August 26 due to tariff issues, while regular letter services remain unaffected [1] - Bulgaria's postal service has also suspended all shipments to the U.S. due to changes in U.S. customs clearance measures, which now require electronic pre-declaration data to be sent to U.S. postal operators [2] - From August 29, the U.S. will no longer provide tax exemptions for imported packages valued at $800 or less, meaning all small packages will incur applicable taxes [3] Group 2 - The Universal Postal Union reported that 25 countries have announced the suspension of parcel shipments to the U.S. due to uncertainties related to the new U.S. regulations [4] - South Korea's postal service has suspended EMS shipments to the U.S., allowing only UPS for parcel delivery, with customs duties to be borne by the recipient [5] - Several European countries, along with Australia, India, Japan, Thailand, and Singapore, have also suspended parcel shipments to the U.S. in recent days [7] Group 3 - An analysis from the Cato Institute indicates that the U.S. government's removal of tax exemptions for small imports will significantly impact low-income groups and further complicate logistics companies, leading to serious implementation challenges [7]

Core Viewpoint - The United States will suspend tax exemptions on imported packages valued at $800 or less starting August 29, which is expected to create significant challenges for logistics companies and adversely affect low-income groups in the U.S. [3][4] Group 1: Impact on International Shipping - As a result of the new U.S. regulations, 25 countries have announced a suspension of package shipments to the U.S. due to uncertainties related to shipping services [3]. - Russia's postal service has stopped accepting goods for mailing to the U.S. since August 26, citing issues related to customs duties [3]. - Bulgaria's postal service has also suspended all shipments to the U.S. due to changes in customs clearance measures [3]. - South Korea's postal department has halted EMS shipments to the U.S., allowing only UPS services, which require recipients to pay the applicable duties [3]. Group 2: Broader International Response - Several European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, along with Australia, India, Japan, Thailand, and Singapore, have also suspended package shipments to the U.S. in recent days [3]. Group 3: Domestic Implications - The Cato Institute's analysis indicates that the removal of tax exemptions for small imports will significantly harm low-income groups in the U.S. and exacerbate challenges for logistics companies [4]. - The implementation of the new tax measures is expected to face serious operational issues [4].