Chunghwa Post resumes some small parcel services to U.S.

Taipei, Oct. 1 (CNA) Taiwan's Chunghwa Post on Wednesday said it had resumed the shipment to the United States of small parcels containing noncommercial gifts or books valued at under US$100, after suspending such shipments in late August due to the expiration of a tariff exemption.

In a news release, the state-owned postal company said it had resumed such shipments in accordance with U.S. government executive orders and guidance from the Universal Postal Union's International Bureau, which confirmed such shipments remained exempt from U.S. customs duties.

However, parcels that U.S. customs officers judge to be valued at over US$100 or contain items other than noncommercial gifts or books could be seized, destroyed or returned, Chunghwa Post said, adding that it would not bear responsibility for such parcels or associated costs.

The resumption of service comes after Chunghwa Post halted shipments to the U.S. of all EMS (express mail service) packages, international parcel posts, ePackets, international registered small packages, and international ordinary small packages on Aug. 26.

The suspension was initiated in response to the U.S. government's announcement that the so-called "Duty-Free de minimis Treatment" would expire on Aug. 29.

The policy originally exempted customs duties on items mailed to the U.S. valued at US$800 or below.

Due to its lack of a system for collecting duties from senders of parcels in advance and remitting them to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Chunghwa Post said at the time, it decided to suspend small parcel shipments to the U.S., though it continued handling letters, postcards and other printed materials.

In 2024, customers sent approximately 340,000 packages to the United States via Chunghwa Post, according to the company's statistics.