Regional businesses scramble as Australia Post halts shipments to the US

The suspension will not apply to gifts under $154 (US$100), letters and documents, Australia Post said.

But it will affect Business Contract, MyPost Business and Retail customers sending goods through the postal network.

Ballarat patchwork designer Emma Jean Jansen said the postal suspension will have a "massive" effect on her online quilt business.

She said that "close to 70 per cent" of her sales are made to US-based buyers.

The partial suspension begins on August 26 and will continue until further notice.

"Australia Post has taken this action in response to recent significant changes the US Government has made to customs and import tariff rules for parcels sent to the US," the national mail service said.

"Changes include the US suspending the De Minimis exemption for inbound goods (below USD$800) and requiring the pre-payment of tariffs prior to an item's arrival in the US."

Ms Jansen's business, selling quilt patterns and templates, has paused sales to the US as she finds a shipping alternative.

"I've been following it, obviously, but I didn't think anything from the US would ever affect me directly like this," she said.

"I shut down shipping last week, so that gave two weeks for my parcels to get into the States."

She said a 10 per cent tariff could be manageable for her business, but said the challenge will be "working out how that's going to be collected and who's collecting it".

"I will have to pivot again, as a small business owner does," she said.

The suspension of postal services was "in line" with action taken by other operators globally, AusPost said.

"Australia Post is focused on providing a reliable and competitive postal service for customers sending parcels internationally," Australia Post executive GM of parcel, post and eCommerce services Gary Starr said.

"Guidance from US Customs and Border Protection has only recently been issued and, like more than 190 other postal providers, we've been working at pace to find a solution," he said.

"We are disappointed we have had to take this action, however, due to the complex and rapidly evolving situation, a temporary partial suspension has been necessary to allow us to develop and implement a workable solution for our customers."

Australia Post has begun working with Zonos, an authorised US Customs and Border Protection third-party provider, to allow services to resume for Business Contract and My Post Business customers.

"These customers will receive communications from Australia Post on what they need to do next to be ready for when this solution goes live," the mail service said.

Postal goods sent to the US and Puerto Rico on or after 26 August 2025 will not be accepted by Australia Post until further notice.

"Australia Post continues to work with US and Australian authorities and international postal partners to resume postal service to the US as a priority," Mr Starr said.

Customers seeking an update can check the Australia Post website or call 13 POST (13 7678).