Mail traffic to the United States decreased by 70% for a full 5 weeks after the “minimum” exemption expired.

There was confusion Since the United States ended the tariff exemption For packages under $800 on August 29 worldwide The Postal Union reported that 88 of its 192 member countries have suspended all or some of their postal service to the United States to allow time to adjust their shipping procedures.

The Universal Postal Union said on Friday that “only a small number” of those had resumed operations in the United States

The organization said traffic to the United States on October 3 fell by 70.7% compared to its volume one week before the regulatory changes. On August 29, when the exemption expired, Trading volume decreased by 81% from the previous week.

The Universal Postal Union, based in Bern, Switzerland, said it is implementing technology that will help members calculate, collect and remit required fees to U.S. Customs and Border Protection through the Universal Postal Union’s customs declaration system.

“Postal services are essential services,” Lati Matata, director of the UPU’s Postal Technology Centre, said in a statement. Matata said the technology, an application programming interface, will allow “every postal operator in the (Universal Postal Union) network – no matter how big or small – to meet customs requirements to ensure that citizens around the world, including U.S. citizens, get their mail.”

Since the expiration of the exemption, purchases that previously entered the United States without the need for customs clearance now require inspection and are subject to the applicable tariff rate in their country of origin, which can Ranging from 10% to 50%.

While the change applies to each country’s products, US residents will not have to pay customs duties on incoming gifts worth up to $100, or on personal souvenirs worth up to $200 from trips abroad, according to the White House.