International Shipping Questions
Temporary pause on US orders (effective )
Key Info
- The United States has ended its $800 “de minimis” duty-free threshold for low-value imports. From 29 Aug 2025, all parcels entering the US require a full customs entry and duties/taxes assessment.
- These tarrifs, like all import duties are paid for by the customer, this is true worldwide and is not US specific. The difference here, is our key delivery parter is requiring that duties and fees are paid to US Customs in advance of sending instead of allowing the customer to pay on receipt.
- Until we can implement accurate, product-level duty calculations and compliant collection/remittance at checkout, we’re temporarily halting new orders to US addresses.
What changed
- An Executive Order suspends duty-free de minimis treatment for all countries, effective 29 Aug 2025. See the White House notice and CBP guidance below.
- CBP indicates these shipments are now subject to applicable duties, taxes, fees and admissibility requirements, with interim measures for some postal flows reported in the press.
Why we’ve paused US shipping
- Accurate duties up-front: We must classify each product (HS code/origin of manufacture) and calculate US tariffs at item level, then present a final landed cost before you pay.
- Compliance & remittance: Our checkout and logistics integrations need updates so collected duties/taxes are transmitted to our carrier/customs broker with each shipment to prevent delays or unexpected bills.
- Service quality: Shipping without robust duty calculation risks incorrect charges, customs holds, or surprise fees. We’re pausing now to avoid those outcomes.
What this means for you
- We are not accepting new US orders for the moment.
- You can still browse our catalogue and contact us for technical/product advice.
- We’ll re-enable US checkout once our duty-calculation and remittance workflow is fully validated across our carriers.
FAQ
Can you ship if I agree to pay duties on delivery?
Not yet. We’re standardising reliable workflows that either collect and remit duties at checkout (DDP) or provide clear, verifiable import charges without creating delays.
When will US shipping resume?
We’ll post an update here as soon as the new process is live. We won’t provide dates until the solution is tested and compliant.
Sources
- The Independent: “Royal Mail restarts US parcel service – for an extra fee” (28 Aug 2025).
- White House: “Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries” (Executive Order, 30 Jul 2025).
- US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) FAQ: E-Commerce Frequently Asked Questions (notes effective 29 Aug 2025).
- CBP Factsheet (PDF): “Suspension of Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment” and direct PDF download.
- Reuters explainer: “How the end of de minimis exemption will impact U.S. shoppers and businesses” (29 Aug 2025).
- Reuters update: “US low-value package tariff exemption ends…” (29 Aug 2025).
- Washington Post (analysis/opinion): “Ending the ‘de minimis’ tax exemption didn’t need to be so chaotic” (28 Aug 2025).
- CBS News report: “‘De minimis’ U.S. tariffs exemption for low-value imports ends” (29 Aug 2025).
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