Beginning January 7, 2026, Belize will recommence postal shipments to the United States following a four-month operational pause. This suspension was precipitated by sweeping changes to U.S. customs regulations instituted by Executive Order 14324, signed by President Donald Trump on July 30, 2025.
The landmark policy shift eliminated the longstanding de minimis threshold, which had previously exempted imported goods valued under $800 from customs duties and formal processing. The new mandate requires that every parcel entering the United States, irrespective of its declared value, must now undergo customs clearance and be subject to applicable tariffs.
Dr. Marsha Price, Postmaster General of the Belize Postal Service, characterized the U.S. rule change as a significant disruption to global postal logistics. “The conventional practice has always placed the responsibility for collecting customs duties on the destination country. This policy reversal presented an unprecedented challenge for postal administrations worldwide,” Dr. Price stated. The hiatus was necessary to await a standardized international framework from the Universal Postal Union (UPU) to manage this new paradigm.
The resumption of service will be facilitated by the UPU’s Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) system. This mechanism enables the calculation and pre-payment of all requisite duties and taxes in Belize prior to a package’s departure, streamlining its journey through U.S. customs.
Key procedural changes for consumers include:
– Mandatory customs duties on all U.S.-bound parcels, removing the previous value-based exemption.
– Full pre-payment of all estimated duties and fees within Belize.
– Online accessibility for shipping cost calculations to facilitate informed planning.
– In-person assistance at post offices for customers lacking internet access.
A phased soft launch is scheduled for January 5, leading to a full public rollout on January 7. Dr. Price assured the public of the postal service’s commitment, affirming, “We are here to assist our customers throughout this entire new process.”