A new trade policy from the United States has sparked an unprecedented logistical crisis, causing major postal services worldwide to suspend shipments and leaving small businesses in a state of chaos. Under a decree signed by President Donald Trump last month, the “de minimis” trade loophole, which previously allowed international goods valued at up to $800 (approximately GHS 8,800) to enter the country duty-free, will be subject to import duties from August 29. Letters, books, gifts, and small parcels worth less than $100 (approximately GHS 1,100) will continue to be exempt. This abrupt change has paralysed international commerce as countries and carriers grapple with the new reality.
A Logistical Blackout
For weeks, international carriers have expressed deep frustration over the lack of clear guidance from United States authorities. Over the weekend, multiple postal operators, including those in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Italy, stopped shipping most merchandise to the US. France and Austria followed on Monday, and the United Kingdom on Tuesday.
These operators, many of whom are members of PostEurop, an association of 51 European public postal operators, are pausing deliveries because they cannot guarantee that packages will arrive before the August 29 deadline. They cite ambiguity about what goods are covered by the new rules and the lack of time to process their implications.
“Key questions remain unresolved, particularly regarding how and by whom customs duties will be collected in the future, what additional data will be required, and how the data transmission to the US. Customs and Border Protection will be carried out,” a DHL statement read. This confusion has effectively made it impossible for postal workers to process the millions of packages that would now be subject to tariffs, leading to a temporary suspension of services to prevent a catastrophic backlog.
The International Mailers Advisory Group (IMAG), which represents international shippers, has warned that a “domino effect” is taking hold, with more and more posts likely to follow suit. The UK’s Royal Mail, for example, stated that items originating in the UK and valued over $100 will now face a 10% duty, a clear sign of the new costs and rules coming into effect.
Ghanaian Livelihoods Threatened
The ripple effect of this policy is being felt most acutely in African nations, especially Ghana, where e-commerce has become a vital lifeline for small businesses. For artisans who sell kente cloth, shea butter, and other handicrafts, the de minimis rule was an indispensable tool for accessing the lucrative American market. Now, a small order that once passed through customs without issue will be hit with tariffs and complex paperwork.
The cost of this policy is deeply personal. One Ghanaian entrepreneur, Naa Dei Schandorf, lamented, “This is a direct blow to my livelihood. My products will become too expensive for my US customers with the added duties. This is more than a policy change; it’s a barrier to my family’s survival.” For a sector built on low-cost, high-volume exports, the new rules threaten to dismantle years of hard work and economic progress, hitting individual entrepreneurs and their workers the hardest.
The government of Ghana has confirmed diplomatic engagements with the US to seek an exemption from the tariffs. Samson Ahi, the deputy trade minister, emphasized the urgency, saying, “This is an issue we are treating with the urgency and seriousness it deserves.”
A small-scale exporter of handcrafted leather goods, Frema Koduah, shared her frustration, “My shipment of wallets and bags has been sitting at the airport since Friday. I don’t know what to tell my customers. I’ve worked so hard to build this business, and now I feel completely stranded.” This sentiment of helplessness is a common refrain among Ghanaian entrepreneurs who rely on direct-to-consumer sales to the US.
The Debate: Trade Security vs. Economic Harm
The United States government defends its policy as a necessary step to combat illicit trade. The White House points to a massive increase in de minimis shipments—from 134 million in 2015 to over 1.36 billion in 2024—as evidence of the loophole’s exploitation. They claim that this channel has been used to smuggle fentanyl, counterfeit goods, and other dangerous materials into the country, making the new rules a matter of national security and fair trade.
However, critics argue that the policy is a blunt instrument that unfairly penalizes small, legitimate businesses while doing little to stop organized crime. As Kate Muth, executive director of the International Mailers Advisory Group, noted, the new rules will likely create more chaos than they prevent.
UN trade experts at UNCTAD have also highlighted that these tariffs disproportionately affect vulnerable economies, which contribute a marginal share to the US trade deficit. Increasing tariffs on their goods, such as cocoa from Ghana, will likely raise consumer prices without significantly increasing US revenue.
For Ghana, this crisis serves as a powerful call to action. Economic experts and government officials are urging a strategic pivot toward intra-African trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). By building stronger regional supply chains and internal markets, Ghana and other African nations can reduce their dependency on a volatile global trade order and build a more resilient economic future. This situation is a test of Africa’s ability to unite and overcome external economic challenges.