Canada Post has announced the suspension of mail services to certain European Union countries due to new customs regulations for low-value shipments. In a recent notice on its website, the postal service revealed that it will not be accepting packages bound for twelve countries until further notice. The affected countries include Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Spain.
However, Canada Post will continue to receive shipments for other EU destinations where the Delivered Duties Unpaid shopping agreement is viable, such as Poland, Latvia, and Sweden. The postal service has also committed to finding compliant solutions for the impacted markets.
The European Union implemented a three-euro customs duty on parcels valued at 150 euros or less, equivalent to around $240, imported from outside the bloc starting Wednesday. Previously, these low-value packages were exempt from duties, but the EU stated that the rule was outdated for the current volume of online purchases.
In 2025, the EU received 5.9 billion low-value packages, accounting for 97% of all imported items. The EU highlighted that many parcels are underreported or falsely declared to evade customs duties, giving non-EU sellers an unfair advantage. The new customs duty aims to promote fair competition, protect consumers, combat customs fraud, and address environmental concerns related to excessive shipping.
The EU clarified that the new duty is temporary, with plans to tax imports based on value, origin, and tariff classification starting July 1, 2028. The United States took a similar step last August by eliminating its long-standing de minimis exemption, which allowed duty-free entry for packages under $800.
The move was prompted by concerns that the lack of rigorous inspections for low-value packages entering the U.S. was facilitating the entry of illicit substances. Canada also maintains a low-value package exemption for customs duties on shipments from Mexico and the U.S. valued at $150 or less.