NIPOST says shipment to US will cost $80, cites Trump’s executive order

The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) says all postal items sent to the United States, except letters and documents, will now attract a customs duty of $80 at the point of acceptance in Nigeria.

NIPOST, in a notice to customers on Friday, said the change follows the executive order by United States President Donald Trump, suspending the duty-free de minimis treatment for all countries under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

“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,” the statement reads.

“With effect from 29th August 2025, and in compliance with the executive order, all postal items to the United States, except for letters and documents, will now attract a prepaid customs duty of USD $80 (or its Naira equivalent) at the point of acceptance in Nigeria.”

NIPOST added that global logistics operations have also been disrupted as airline and cargo carriers adopt more cautious measures in handling U.S.-bound shipments.

This, the agency warned, could extend transit and processing times, potentially causing delivery delays.

“All U.S.-bound shipments will additionally undergo Customs checks at the destination,” the service said.

“NIPOST is actively engaging with the Universal Postal Union (UPU), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and our airline partners to minimize service disruptions and safeguard customer experience.”

NIPOST assured its customers of its continued commitment to providing safe, reliable, and efficient postal and courier services despite the new global regulatory changes.

According to Reuters, DHL Group has introduced what it described as “probably temporary” restrictions on business shipments to the U.S. through Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany, citing uncertainties over customs duty collection and data requirements.

The company said its premium DHL Express service remains operational, and it plans to restore standard postal shipments as soon as possible.

The publication said the US government described the exemption as a loophole for tariff evasion and drug trafficking.