New U.S. Shipping Updates
As a result of new regulations from U.S. customs authorities, all items with commercial value shipped to the U.S., regardless of value, will now be subject to new duties and taxes starting 29 August 2025.
To support these new requirements, SingPost has the following solutions available:
For Retail Customers
- Retail customers can still send items with commercial value to the U.S. using our Speedpost Express service for international deliveries. This option is fully equipped to meet the latest customs requirements, which include duties and taxes payable by the recipient, and helps facilitate the smooth delivery of shipments.
For Corporate Customers
- SingPost has introduced a new service, Speedpost Direct International in addition to our Speedpost Express service available for corporate customers. Dedicated account managers will be contacting customers to help them with this service.
Please note that for the time being, SingPost will be suspending the acceptance of items with commercial value via our standard Post service for shipments to the U.S. from 25 August 2025 to ensure that shipments can reach the U.S. before 29 August when new regulations apply. The following services to the U.S. are impacted: Speedpost Priority, Speedpost Standard, Speedpost Economy, Registered Service (Air and Surface), Basic Package (Air and Surface) and ePac.
Shipments of letter mail (documents with no declared value) via Post are not affected and will continue to be accepted as usual.
SingPost will not be responsible for and the sender will bear all risks and liabilities associated with customs clearance for postal items containing items with commercial value sent to the U.S., including delays, returns, penalties, and confiscation.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we adapt to these new regulations. We remain committed to providing you with reliable and seamless service.
Additional Information:
Starting 29 August 2025, the U.S. will suspend the de minimis exemption for all international shipments. This means that duties and taxes will now apply to all imports to the U.S., including those valued at US$800 or less.
New Mandatory Customs Information
To ensure your shipments are not delayed, it is also now mandatory to provide a Country of Origin and a 10-digit Harmonised System (HS) code for each item in your shipment.
- What is a Country of Origin? This refers to the country where the item was manufactured or produced.
- What is an HS code? This is a globally standardised code used by customs authorities to classify products. You can find your product's HS code here: https://hts.usitc.gov
FAQs
1) What are postal shipments containing items with commercial value?
This includes all existing SingPost products including Speedpost Priority, Speedpost Standard, Speedpost Economy, Registered Service (Air and Surface), Basic Package (Air and Surface) and ePac.
Shipments of letter mail (documents with no declared value) via Post are not affected and will continue to be accepted as usual.
For retail customers, items with commercial value can be sent via SpeedPost Express service for international deliveries. For corporate customers, SingPost has introduced a new service, Speedpost Direct International, in addition to our Speedpost Express service available for corporate customers. Dedicated account managers will be contacting customers to help them with this service.
2) Why can't I ship postal items containing items with commercial value to the U.S. anymore?
A new U.S. customs regulation will suspend the de minimis exemption for all international shipments, effective 29 August 2025. This change means all imports, regardless of value, will now be subject to new duties and taxes. To ensure all shipments are compliant and avoid potential issues for our customers, we are directing customers to use Speedpost Express.
3) What is the de minimis exemption?
The de minimis exemption previously allowed imports valued at US$800 or below to enter the U.S. without being subject to duties and taxes. This change by the U.S. government impacts all international shipping providers.
4) When will this change take effect?
The U.S. regulation is effective from 29 August 2025. As a precautionary measure to prevent any items with commercial value from being affected, SingPost will be suspending the acceptance of items with commercial value via our standard Post service for shipments to the U.S. from 25 August 2025. The following services to the U.S. are impacted: Speedpost Priority, Speedpost Standard, Speedpost Economy, Registered Service (Air and Surface), Basic Package (Air and Surface) and ePac.
Retail customers can still send items with commercial value to the U.S. using our Speedpost Express service for international deliveries.
For corporate customers, SingPost has introduced a new service, Speedpost Direct International in addition to our Speedpost Express service available for corporate customers. Dedicated account managers will be contacting customers to help them with this service.
Shipments of documents with no declared value via SingPost products are not affected and will continue as usual.
5) Where can I send my item using SpeedPost Express service for international deliveries?
Walk into any of our Post Offices; you may locate the nearest one to you via this site: https://www.singpost.com/locate-us.
6) What if I dropped a shipment containing items with commercial value bound for the U.S. into the Posting Box and needed to retrieve it?
Any shipment containing items with commercial value bound for the U.S. would be returned to the sender. For items without return address, a retrieval fee of $20 (subject to prevailing GST) would be imposed upon request for retrieval and return.
7) Why do I need to be aware of the list of restricted and prohibited items?
The new regulation on de minimis only affects duties and taxes, not the U.S. government's strict rules on restricted and prohibited items. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will continue to seize any goods that are not permitted to enter the country, regardless of their value. This includes common items like certain food products (e.g., bak kwa, mooncakes with egg yolk), products made from endangered species, counterfeit goods, and certain health supplements or medications that are not FDA-approved. To ensure your shipment is not confiscated or destroyed, it is crucial to accurately declare all items and verify they are not on the official U.S. list of prohibited and restricted goods before shipping.
Here are some resources for your reference:
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/know-before-you-go/prohibited-and-restricted-items
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/internet-purchases
8) If I’m expecting a package from the U.S. to Singapore, would it be subjected to the same restriction?
Items from the U.S. to Singapore are not affected and you will continue to receive the delivery through SingPost.
