The short answer is that there is not one single universal list of countries that have suspended mail shipments to the US. The current situation varies by postal operator, by shipment type, and by whether the item is a parcel, document, or express item. As a snapshot, many countries have suspended or restricted parcel shipments to the United States, while some still allow letters, documents, or limited express services. If you need to send something urgently, check the carrier’s current alert page before mailing.
For the most current official USPS view of service disruptions, see the USPS International Service Alerts. For a broader market snapshot of global postal suspensions, current reporting indicates that more than 30 countries have suspended or restricted shipments in some form, including full suspensions, goods-only suspensions, and partial restrictions.
Which countries have suspended mail shipments to the US right now?
Based on the live sources, the list is changing, but the countries and postal services currently reported as suspending or restricting shipments to the US include the following. This is a current snapshot, not a permanent roster.
| Type of suspension | Countries / postal services reported in the live sources | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Full suspension | Fiji, Ghana, India, Ivory Coast, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Mongolia, Peru, Samoa, Uruguay | Goods and documents are both suspended in the Global Trade Alert snapshot. |
| Goods-only suspension | Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Barbados, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Jamaica, Lao, Latvia, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu | Documents are exempt, but parcels or goods shipments are restricted. |
| Partial goods suspension | Austria, Belize, Brazil, Croatia, Czechia, Dominican Republic, France, Greenland, Iceland, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand | Some low-value or specific goods shipments may still move, often with limits. |
| Lifted suspension / resumed in some form | Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, United Kingdom | These countries were listed by Global Trade Alert as having lifted suspension in the snapshot, though service may still vary by operator and mail class. |
That broader list is supported by the Global Trade Alert tracking report, which classifies postal responses by suspension type rather than treating every country the same. You can review the underlying report here: Tracking Global Suspensions of Parcel Shipments to the US.
Live reporting also shows additional country-level pauses or restrictions. For example, Reuters-based coverage carried by Yahoo Finance says the countries included Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and Thailand among those affected in some form. That same coverage also notes that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s two largest postal carriers stopped accepting international postal items addressed to the US, while the later report on South Korea said customers could use a partnership service through UPS. You can read that live snapshot here: Over 30 countries suspended or restricted shipments to the US.
Why this list is not one simple yes-or-no answer
The main reason is that some postal operators have paused goods but still accept documents. Others have paused standard parcel acceptance but still allow express mail, a commercial partnership service, or a limited product class. In other words, “suspended mail shipments” can mean several different things depending on the country and the carrier.
For readers trying to send commercial parcels, the practical question is not just whether a country appears on a list, but what type of shipment is still allowed. A parcel, a letter, an express envelope, and a low-value business shipment may each be treated differently.
What USPS currently lists as international mail disruptions
If you are using USPS for outbound international mail to the US, USPS publishes its own International Service Alerts. This is an official carrier source, but it is not the same thing as a universal global ban list. It reflects USPS service disruptions and destination-specific conditions for the mail classes USPS handles.
In the current USPS alert snapshot, the listed countries include Afghanistan, Kiribati, Turkmenistan, Bhutan, Republic of Congo, Yemen, Cuba, Seychelles, Haiti, South Sudan, Iran and Sudan. The USPS page also shows dates for each disruption, which means the list is time-sensitive and should be checked directly before mailing.
According to USPS, these disruptions affect the following mail classes:
- Priority Mail Express International
- Priority Mail International
- First-Class Mail International
- First-Class Package International Service
- International Priority Airmail
- M-Bag items
That matters because a USPS service alert is about the carrier’s ability to process and move mail. It does not automatically mean every private carrier is blocked, and it does not mean every country has the same limitation across all postal products. Treat USPS alerts as a carrier-specific operating update, not a blanket worldwide shipping rule.
Can France still send mail to the USA?
Yes, but not always in the same way as before. France has been among the countries reported as suspending some postal shipments or deliveries to the US in the current wave of restrictions. However, the evidence does not show that every type of mail from France has stopped. In similar cases, operators have paused parcels while letters and documents remain unaffected, or they have limited service to certain goods categories or value thresholds.
NB: the current reporting indicates that France’s national postal service, La Poste, said the US did not provide full details or enough time to prepare for the new customs procedures. That is why French senders may see a pause, delay, or a limited-service announcement rather than a permanent shutdown. In practical terms, a sender in France may still be able to move some items through an alternative product, a lower-risk shipment type, or a commercial carrier arrangement, but they should not assume a standard parcel will go through as usual.
For additional context on the Europe-wide pattern, see NBC News coverage of global mail carriers suspending US deliveries amid confusion over new duties and reporting on Portuguese postal service joining the list of European operators.
Why are postal services suspending deliveries to the US?
The main reason cited in the live sources is a change in US customs and duty procedures, including the end of de minimis-style treatment for low-value shipments. Postal operators say they need time to retool systems, update customs processes, and wait for clearer implementation guidance before they can resume normal service.
This is important because the issue is not simply “delays”. In many cases, the postal operator has paused acceptance or transport of qualifying items until it can comply with the new rules. That is a more serious operational disruption than a slow transit time.
The NBC report explains that postal providers in Belgium, Denmark and New Zealand were among the operators that had already suspended shipments of packages to the US while they reworked systems. It also notes that letters and documents are generally unaffected, and that some services in Germany, France, Britain and India said they would follow suit. You can read that report here: Global mail carriers suspend US deliveries amid confusion over new duties.
The Portuguese-language reporting on the policy change also says the measure affects shipments destined for the US and US territories, and that the discontinuation of the de minimis exemption means shipments worth $800 or less will now be subject to customs duties from the stated implementation date. See: Portuguese postal service joins list of European companies suspending goods deliveries to the US.
If you want a deeper explanation of the customs side, see our guide on how long customs clearance takes and our practical breakdown of how much customs duty you’ll pay.
In some cases, carriers are also asking customers for more customs information than they were used to providing before. If that is affecting your shipments, our article on why DHL is asking for your Social Security Number explains the paperwork friction that can appear when rules change.
What does this mean if you need to mail something to the US?
If you need to send something to the United States, the most important step is to check the current carrier alert before you ship. Do not rely on old rate cards, old shipping habits, or a general assumption that “international mail” still means the same thing everywhere.
Before mailing, verify four things:
- Carrier status: Check whether the postal service or courier has paused acceptance, transport, or only some mail classes.
- Shipment type: Confirm whether documents, parcels, gifts, or commercial goods are treated differently.
- Value threshold: Some restrictions apply only above or below a certain declared value.
- Alternative routes: Ask whether a private carrier or partnership service is still available.
In the live sources, some postal operators kept or resumed movement through alternative channels. For example, South Korea’s post said customers could send packages through its partnership service with UPS, and New Zealand’s post later resumed shipments through a new commercial sending option. That means a postal suspension does not always equal a total shipping blackout.
If you are comparing backup shipping methods, our guides on international freight forwarding companies and air freight vs courier shipping can help you decide whether a commercial route is worth the cost and paperwork.
For senders who are trying to compare commercial options after a postal pause, our article on compare USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL may also help you choose an alternative carrier.
What about gifts, marketplace shipments, and online sellers?
Gift parcels and low-value marketplace shipments are often the first items affected when customs rules change, because they sit in the zone that used to benefit most from simplified entry treatment. That does not mean gifts are always blocked, but it does mean their treatment may change faster than normal commercial freight.
If you are sending a present, a resale item, or a small e-commerce order, check whether the carrier now classifies it as a parcel requiring duty collection and customs data. Our guide on send a gift to the US without tariffs covers the customs and tariff angle in more detail. If you sell through marketplaces, you may also run into form requirements more often, which is why some sellers see more customs paperwork now than they did before.
The bottom line
So, which countries have suspended mail shipments to the US? The answer is that many countries have suspended or restricted at least some types of postal shipments, but the situation is uneven. Some have full suspensions for goods and documents, some have goods-only restrictions, and some have partial limits tied to value or shipment type. France is among the countries affected in the current wave, but that does not necessarily mean all French mail to the US has stopped.
The most reliable approach is to check the current carrier alert, confirm whether your item is a document or parcel, and look for an approved alternative if the postal route is paused. Because the list is changing, treat this as a current status update rather than a permanent global ban list.