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BusinessSMEs lament as American govt imposes $80 duty on US-bound postal shipments - BUSINESS HALLMARK
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Owners of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria have decried the imposition of $80 or its naira equivalent customs duty on postal shipments from Nigeria to the United States.
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The SMEs argued that the new duty will significantly raise costs for Nigerian SMEs, e-commerce vendors, and individuals who send small parcels to the United States.
The Nigerian Postal Service had at the weekend announced that from August 29, 2025, all postal shipments from Nigeria to the United States, except letters and documents, will attract a mandatory prepaid customs duty of $80 or its naira equivalent.
In a public notice to its customers last Friday, NIPOST explained that the new charges stem from a recent Executive Order signed by the Government of the United States of America suspending de minimis exemptions for all postal shipments globally.
The directive, it said, was issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Reacting to the development, the National President of the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria, Dr. Femi Egbesola, said the new $80 mandatory duty on US-bound postal shipments will drastically raise costs for Nigerian SMEs, e-commerce vendors and individuals who send small parcels to the United States.
“For many low-value goods, this charge may exceed the shipment’s actual worth, making small exports uneconomical.
“This policy, though global in scope, will particularly affect Nigerian businesses already struggling with high logistics costs and currency pressures.
“It may discourage micro-exporters, reduce the competitiveness of Nigerian products in the US market, and slow down delivery timelines due to stricter customs checks.
“To cushion the impact, Nigerian businesses may need to explore private courier services, consolidated shipping arrangements, or US-based fulfillment partners.
“It also calls for urgent government intervention to create export support mechanisms and engage diplomatically to ease trade barriers”, Egbesola stated.
Announcing the development issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of the United States, NIPOST stated: “The Nigerian Postal Service wishes to inform our esteemed customers of a recent policy change by the Government of the United States of America, enacted through the Executive Order on ‘Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries’ under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act”.
According to the service, the decision by Washington applies to all designated postal operators worldwide and is not limited to Nigeria.
“This Executive Order applies to all postal operators and designated postal administrations worldwide, and the payment of the additional duty affects all global postal inflows into the United States, not just those from Nigeria”, it added.
The agency said the new measure will have far-reaching implications for Nigerians sending parcels and goods to family, friends, and business partners in the US. It warned that global logistics operations were already adjusting to the policy, with airlines and cargo carriers adopting stricter protocols in handling shipments destined for America.
“Global logistics operations are also being affected, as airline and cargo carriers adopt more cautious measures in handling U.S.-bound shipments. This may extend both transit and processing times, potentially resulting in delivery delays”, NIPOST explained.
The notice further stated that all US-bound items would undergo additional Customs checks on arrival. This, officials said, may compound waiting times for recipients. NIPOST, however, assured customers that it was actively working with international partners to cushion the impact.
“NIPOST is actively engaging with the Universal Postal Union, US Customs and Border Protection, and our airline partners to minimize service disruptions and safeguard customer experience,” the agency said.
The postal service reiterated its commitment to ensuring efficient and reliable service delivery despite what it described as a ‘global regulatory adjustment’.
“We reassure our customers that NIPOST remains committed to providing safe, reliable, and efficient postal and courier services despite this global regulatory adjustment”, it added
