Canada Post has announced the suspension of services to select European Union countries due to new customs regulations for low-value shipments. The postal service indicated that it is currently not accepting packages bound for twelve EU nations until further notice. These 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 agreement is feasible, such as Poland, Latvia, and Sweden. The postal service has also pledged to develop compliant solutions in the affected markets.
The European Union implemented a three-euro customs duty on parcels valued at 150 euros or less from outside the bloc, effective Wednesday. Previously, these low-value packages were exempt from duties, but the EU stated that the rule no longer aligns with the current landscape of frequent online purchases.
In 2025, the EU received 5.9 billion low-value items, constituting 97% of all imports for the bloc. The EU emphasized that many parcels are undervalued or falsely declared to evade customs duties, giving non-EU sellers an unfair advantage over local businesses.
The EU described the new measure as a step towards fairer competition, consumer protection, combating customs fraud, and addressing environmental concerns related to mass shipping. The temporary duty will be replaced on July 1, 2028, with a tax structure based on product value, origin, and tariff classification.
Last August, the U.S. eliminated its long-standing de minimis exemption, which allowed duty-free entry of packages under $800, citing concerns about undetected illegal drug shipments. Canada also has a low-value package exemption for customs duties for shipments from Mexico and the U.S. valued at $150 or lower.