India Post Reopens All Mail Services to America
Postal Link to U.S. Restored with Duty-Paid System
New Delhi: India will resume all categories of international postal services to the United States of America from October 15, 2025, the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, announced today.
When India suspended its postal services to the United States in August this year, it marked a rare interruption in a century-old exchange of letters, parcels, and trade. Now, nearly two months later, when India Post is set to restore the connection, this time it is with a modern, duty-paid system that promises both speed and compliance.
Also read: India Stops US Posts in Duty Trade Clash
The services were halted on August 22, 2025, following the U.S. Administration’s Executive Order 14324, which ended de minimis treatment for all postal shipments. The move required postal authorities worldwide to comply with new regulations from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), mandating the upfront collection and remittance of import duties.
In response, India Post has developed a new system that now meets all CBP requirements. After extensive system upgrades and successful trials in the Delhi and Maharashtra Circles, the Department has rolled out a Delivery Duty Paid (DDP) mechanism that ensures all applicable customs duties on U.S.-bound postal shipments are collected in India at the time of booking.
Under this arrangement, duties will be remitted directly to CBP through approved Qualified Parties, ensuring faster clearance and delivery to U.S. addressees without additional charges or delays.
According to CBP’s revised tariff structure under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), postal shipments from India to the U.S. will attract a flat customs duty of 50% of the declared Free on Board (FOB) value. No additional product-specific duties are imposed on postal consignments. Officials note that this simplified and uniform rate makes the postal route particularly attractive for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), artisans, and e-commerce exporters, helping reduce overall logistics costs.
India Post clarified that it will not impose any extra service charge for facilitating DDP or Qualified Party operations. Postal tariffs remain unchanged, keeping exports affordable for small traders and entrepreneurs.
Customers can now book all categories of international mail — including Express Mail Service (EMS), Air Parcels, Registered Letters and Packets, and Tracked Packets — to the U.S. from any Post Office, International Business Centre (IBC), Dak Ghar Niryat Kendra (DNK), or through the Self-Service Portal at www.indiapost.gov.in.
The introduction of DDP is also expected to improve transparency and predictability in global shipping. By allowing exporters to prepay customs duties in India, the system removes uncertainty for recipients and enables smoother, time-bound deliveries abroad.
Officials said the move aligns with national initiatives such as Make in India, One District One Product (ODOP), and the Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras, which promote local manufacturing and exports. Heads of Circles have been directed to conduct outreach programmes to familiarise exporters and small businesses with the upgraded export system.
The resumption of postal services marks an important milestone in restoring India’s international logistics connectivity and demonstrates India Post’s expanding role in supporting inclusive, export-led economic growth through affordable and compliant delivery solutions.
– global bihari bureau
