International mail delivery services halted by 88 nations in response to US tariffs, as per the United Nations

International Postal Services Disrupted: UPU Announces 80% Drop in Traffic to US

The Universal Postal Union (UPU), an international organisation that sets the rules for global mail exchanges and makes recommendations to improve services, has announced a significant drop in postal traffic to the United States following the imposition of new tariffs.

According to the UPU's statement, postal traffic to the US plunged more than 80 percent after the new tariffs were introduced. The electronic network of the UPU was used to exchange data showing the decline, with a 81% drop in traffic on August 29 compared to a week earlier, representing a 1% increase in the decline.

The UPU's statement did not provide information on the potential impact of the tariffs on international postal services other than those to the United States. However, it was reported that 88 postal operators, including Germany's Deutsche Post, Britain's Royal Mail, and two operators in Bosnia and Herzegovina, have suspended some or all postal services to the US. The UPU stated that 25 countries have suspended postal services to the US due to the tariffs, but did not specify which additional countries have also suspended services.

The UPU's new technical solution for resuming postal services to the United States has not been implemented yet, as some postal operators have suspended services. The UPU is working on this solution, which is aimed at getting mail moving to the US again.

The tariffs were introduced by the US President Donald Trump's administration, who abolished a tax exemption on small packages entering the United States, effective from August 29. The UPU's statement did not mention any new developments or changes in the US President's administration's policy regarding the abolished tax exemption.

The UPU, based in Bern, Switzerland, counts 192 member states. The organisation was established in 1874 and has been instrumental in facilitating international mail exchanges ever since. Despite the current challenges, the UPU continues to work towards improving postal services worldwide.