Hongkong Post announced on April 16 that it will stop accepting postal items with goods destined for the us.

This decision follows the US government’s plan to end duty-free de minimis treatment and increase tariffs on such items starting May 2.

Effective immediately, surface mail containing goods to the US will no longer be accepted.

Unshipped surface mail items will be returned, and postage refunds will begin on April 22. Air mail services for goods to the US will cease on April 27.

Postal items containing documents without goods will not be affected.

🔗 Source: Hongkong Post

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ A sharp reversal in cross-border postal collaboration

Hong Kong’s postal service suspension marks a dramatic shift from the cooperative relationship established with the USPS in 2011, when both entities launched the ePacket service specifically designed to enhance e-commerce between Hong Kong merchants and U.S. consumers 1.

That 2011 agreement featured co-branded shipping labels, integrated tracking systems, and was celebrated for providing visibility in small packet shipments that were previously difficult to monitor 1.

The current suspension effectively terminates a 13-year collaboration that had been explicitly created to facilitate trade, demonstrating how quickly established postal partnerships can collapse when caught in broader trade disputes.

This change is particularly significant given Hong Kong’s status as a separate customs territory that has historically engaged independently in international trade agreements 2.

2️⃣ Part of unprecedented tariff escalation reshaping global trade

The US tariff changes triggering Hong Kong’s response are part of a broader trade policy shift that has dramatically increased America’s effective tariff rate to 22.5%, the highest level since 1909 3.

These tariffs are expected to significantly impact consumers on both sides, with US household purchasing power projected to decrease by an average of $3,800 annually, disproportionately affecting lower-income families 3.

The World Trade Organization now forecasts a contraction in global trade, with North American trade expected to drop by more than 10% as a direct result of these policy changes 4.