The SA Post Office (Sapo) has suspended outbound parcel shipments to the US effective immediately, joining at least a dozen other countries that have halted postal services to the US.
This follows the Trump administration's removal of a rule exempting packages worth less than $800 from tariffs for international incoming packages. The new policy ensures all incoming parcels are subject to duties based on country of origin or face temporary flat-fee tariffs ranging from $80 to $200 per package, depending on origin country tariff rates.
“Given the complex processes required to comply with the new regulation, we have no choice but to temporarily suspend these shipments. We regret any inconvenience this may cause to our customers,” Sapo joint business rescue practitioner Anoosh Rooplal said.
“Postal operators around the world, including Sapo, are now required to collect and pay US duties before parcels can be sent. Until a new system is in place to manage this process, parcels cannot be dispatched.”
Documents, letters and exempted mail classes such as military mail have, however, been exempted from the new policy.
The suspension adds pressure to Sapo, which has been battling financial instability and operational restructuring. In May, the government provided Sapo with a R381m injection from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to save 6,000 jobs.
Sapo was also allocated R1.8m over the medium term from the department of communications and digital technologies to assist with its business rescue plan.
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