I’ve been told that parcels sent from UK to USA are now facing $80 flat fees irrespective of the goods value unless the duty is already paid beforehand because of Trumps tariffs.
I’m told by a YouTuber who’s contacted Royal Mail that they are adding PDDP (Postal Deliveries Duties Paid) to click and drop and that we as the seller can pay the duty for the customer which is 10%, but as of yet there is no option to do that on royal mails site, although they claim it will be ready by the 29th, I know that royal mail don’t do things quickly and I’d be amazed if this was set up by Christmas.
Has anyone got any further details about this ?
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PDDP to USA ?
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yellowbelly
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Re: PDDP to USA ?
I doubt any of us on here know more than what you've gleaned so far. This is from the RM website:C2019 wrote: ↑21 Aug 2025, 17:07I’ve been told that parcels sent from UK to USA are now facing $80 flat fees irrespective of the goods value unless the duty is already paid beforehand because of Trumps tariffs.
I’m told by a YouTuber who’s contacted Royal Mail that they are adding PDDP (Postal Deliveries Duties Paid) to click and drop and that we as the seller can pay the duty for the customer which is 10%, but as of yet there is no option to do that on royal mails site, although they claim it will be ready by the 29th, I know that royal mail don’t do things quickly and I’d be amazed if this was set up by Christmas.
Has anyone got any further details about this ?
https://www.royalmail.com/usabusinessup ... E558DC7A37
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TrueBlueTerrier
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Re: PDDP to USA ?
Generated by AI
Based on the information available, here's a AI-detailed breakdown of the situation regarding parcels from the UK to the USA, incorporating the "Trump tariffs" and Royal Mail's response:
The New U.S. Tariffs and the De Minimis Exemption
* **The Change:** As of August 29, 2025, the U.S. has eliminated the "de minimis" tariff exemption for all goods entering the country. Previously, parcels valued at $800 or less were generally exempt from duties and taxes. This change means that *all* goods, regardless of value, are now subject to customs duties, taxes, and fees.
* **The "Trump Tariffs":** This policy is part of a broader set of tariffs introduced by President Trump. The general baseline tariff on most UK goods is 10%.
* **The Flat Fee:** There is a specific concern for parcels sent through the "international postal system" (like Royal Mail). An Executive Order allows for a "specific" duty to be applied *in addition to* or *in place of* the standard tariff. For countries like the UK with a tariff rate under 16%, this temporary flat fee is **$80 per package**, which will be in place until at least the end of January 2026. This is intended to prevent a massive backlog at U.S. customs, as the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) does not have the infrastructure to process individual tariffs for every incoming low-value shipment.
### Royal Mail's Response: PDDP
* **PDDP (Postal Delivered Duties Paid):** Royal Mail is introducing a new service for account customers called Postal Delivered Duties Paid (PDDP) specifically for shipments to the USA.
* **How it works:** PDDP allows the seller (you) to pay all the duties and taxes upfront at the time of shipping. This means the customer in the U.S. will not have to pay any additional fees upon delivery. This is similar to a service Royal Mail already offers for certain EU destinations.
* **Benefits of PDDP:**
* **No surprise fees for the customer:** The recipient will not be hit with an unexpected $80 flat fee or any other duty charges, preventing a negative customer experience.
* **Faster customs clearance:** Paying the duties upfront can lead to a smoother and faster customs process, reducing the risk of a parcel being held at the border or returned to the sender.
* **Current Status (as of August 22, 2025):** Your information from the YouTuber is accurate. Royal Mail has announced that they are rolling out this PDDP service. They are updating their shipping platforms, like Click & Drop, to capture the necessary data. The new PDDP service codes are being made available to their account customers.
* **Timeline:** While a specific date for full implementation on Click & Drop may not be confirmed, Royal Mail plans to have a system in place to support continued U.S. exports. The fact that they are already communicating the new service codes and that some global postal services are temporarily halting shipments to the U.S. shows the urgency of the situation. Your scepticism about Royal Mail's speed is understandable, but they are under pressure to provide a solution before the new rules take full effect.
### Alternatives to Royal Mail
* **Couriers:** Using a private courier service like FedEx or UPS is a way to bypass the "international postal system" and the potential $80 flat fee. These companies already have the infrastructure to calculate and charge the accurate, specific tariff and duty for each package. They will typically charge the recipient the correct amount before or at the time of delivery.
* **DDP with couriers:** Many courier services also offer a "Delivered Duty Paid" (DDP) option, where the sender can pay the charges upfront, similar to Royal Mail's new PDDP service. This provides the same benefits of a smooth customer experience and faster delivery.
### Summary
The information you've received is correct. The U.S. has eliminated its de minimis exemption, and parcels sent through traditional postal services like Royal Mail face a significant risk of incurring a temporary $80 flat fee. Royal Mail is responding by introducing a PDDP service to allow sellers to pay the duty upfront, which is a crucial step to avoid the flat fee and ensure a smooth delivery process for U.S. customers. While the exact timing of the full rollout is unknown, the changes are already having a "seismic impact" on global shipping, forcing postal services and businesses to adapt quickly.
Based on the information available, here's a AI-detailed breakdown of the situation regarding parcels from the UK to the USA, incorporating the "Trump tariffs" and Royal Mail's response:
The New U.S. Tariffs and the De Minimis Exemption
* **The Change:** As of August 29, 2025, the U.S. has eliminated the "de minimis" tariff exemption for all goods entering the country. Previously, parcels valued at $800 or less were generally exempt from duties and taxes. This change means that *all* goods, regardless of value, are now subject to customs duties, taxes, and fees.
* **The "Trump Tariffs":** This policy is part of a broader set of tariffs introduced by President Trump. The general baseline tariff on most UK goods is 10%.
* **The Flat Fee:** There is a specific concern for parcels sent through the "international postal system" (like Royal Mail). An Executive Order allows for a "specific" duty to be applied *in addition to* or *in place of* the standard tariff. For countries like the UK with a tariff rate under 16%, this temporary flat fee is **$80 per package**, which will be in place until at least the end of January 2026. This is intended to prevent a massive backlog at U.S. customs, as the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) does not have the infrastructure to process individual tariffs for every incoming low-value shipment.
### Royal Mail's Response: PDDP
* **PDDP (Postal Delivered Duties Paid):** Royal Mail is introducing a new service for account customers called Postal Delivered Duties Paid (PDDP) specifically for shipments to the USA.
* **How it works:** PDDP allows the seller (you) to pay all the duties and taxes upfront at the time of shipping. This means the customer in the U.S. will not have to pay any additional fees upon delivery. This is similar to a service Royal Mail already offers for certain EU destinations.
* **Benefits of PDDP:**
* **No surprise fees for the customer:** The recipient will not be hit with an unexpected $80 flat fee or any other duty charges, preventing a negative customer experience.
* **Faster customs clearance:** Paying the duties upfront can lead to a smoother and faster customs process, reducing the risk of a parcel being held at the border or returned to the sender.
* **Current Status (as of August 22, 2025):** Your information from the YouTuber is accurate. Royal Mail has announced that they are rolling out this PDDP service. They are updating their shipping platforms, like Click & Drop, to capture the necessary data. The new PDDP service codes are being made available to their account customers.
* **Timeline:** While a specific date for full implementation on Click & Drop may not be confirmed, Royal Mail plans to have a system in place to support continued U.S. exports. The fact that they are already communicating the new service codes and that some global postal services are temporarily halting shipments to the U.S. shows the urgency of the situation. Your scepticism about Royal Mail's speed is understandable, but they are under pressure to provide a solution before the new rules take full effect.
### Alternatives to Royal Mail
* **Couriers:** Using a private courier service like FedEx or UPS is a way to bypass the "international postal system" and the potential $80 flat fee. These companies already have the infrastructure to calculate and charge the accurate, specific tariff and duty for each package. They will typically charge the recipient the correct amount before or at the time of delivery.
* **DDP with couriers:** Many courier services also offer a "Delivered Duty Paid" (DDP) option, where the sender can pay the charges upfront, similar to Royal Mail's new PDDP service. This provides the same benefits of a smooth customer experience and faster delivery.
### Summary
The information you've received is correct. The U.S. has eliminated its de minimis exemption, and parcels sent through traditional postal services like Royal Mail face a significant risk of incurring a temporary $80 flat fee. Royal Mail is responding by introducing a PDDP service to allow sellers to pay the duty upfront, which is a crucial step to avoid the flat fee and ensure a smooth delivery process for U.S. customers. While the exact timing of the full rollout is unknown, the changes are already having a "seismic impact" on global shipping, forcing postal services and businesses to adapt quickly.
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N|M
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Re: PDDP to USA ?
BBC just posted about this
Royal Mail and DHL halt some US deliveries over tariffs
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2p17xypgko
Royal Mail and DHL halt some US deliveries over tariffs
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2p17xypgko
While gifts worth less than $100 will remain duty-free, the changes mean all other packages will face the same tariff rate as other goods from their country of origin.
No info on PDDP in said articleRoyal Mail said it was withdrawing its current US export services for businesses from Tuesday, but added it hoped to have a new system up and running within two days to allow it to comply with the new rules before they kick in.