The warning to UK businesses comes as US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced new informal postal entry requirements following the indefinite suspension of the $800 de minimis exemption for low-value shipments.
Mark 3 International global commercial director David Taylor said the newly established Entry Type 13 postal entry system will require exporters to adapt operations and seek specialised compliance support.
CBP introduced Entry Type 13 to bring postal shipments into line with other import channels, aiming to collect duty revenue previously exempted under de minimis, improve data for screening admissibility and intellectual property issues, and curb the use of postal routes for smuggling narcotics.
The interim rule, which took effect on 24 July 2026, ended longstanding duty exemptions for international postal parcels.
While the 10% Section 122 duty had historically applied to postal entries, all applicable import duties are now being enforced from this date.
For the time being, the International Mail Duty Worksheet (IMDW), the monthly declaration submitted by carriers, remains in use, albeit with expanded data requirements such as carrier codes, item counts, and declared duties.
However, starting 24 October, shipments involving partner government agencies, specific trade measures, or duty-free claims will be ineligible for IMDW processing.
These will need to transition to Entry Type 13 or be submitted as commercial entries, which require detailed Harmonised Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes and comprehensive product descriptions.
Taylor noted that each entry must now be filed by a licensed customs broker acting as the Importer of Record, adding administrative complexity for UK exporters and their US partners.
“Entry Type 13 is not optional infrastructure. It is the only route that works at scale for mail from October 24th,” he said.
He also warned that logistics customers are already contending with increased costs, reduced service levels, and greater uncertainty, factors that will “almost certainly impact importers and the end consumers.”
These challenges, he added, are compounded by the fact that many major carriers and postal companies are “still poorly equipped” to manage such substantial change.
These regulatory changes come as UK exporters face a difficult trading environment. According to a UK government factsheet, exports of goods to the US fell by 10.3%, or £6.8bn ($9.06bn), over the past year.
Taylor pointed out that while service exports have increased, the goods sector is under growing strain.
“While UK exports of services have risen in recent months, the exporting of goods to the US has already declined sharply. The changes which the industry is going to experience in the next three months – and possibly longer – will make this process even more difficult,” he said.
Taylor recommended that British exporters work with “trusted partners” capable of navigating the complex and evolving market landscape, which he said would help alleviate the burden on importers and maintain commercial competitiveness.
