10% Global Tariffs and What It Means for Your Deliveries
25 February 2026 | Editor's Pick | Most Popular | Parcel Deliveries
Author: Parcel2Go.com
Recent headlines have been dominated by the announcement of a 10% global tariff on all goods entering the United States. However, we want to reassure senders that despite the ongoing tariff news, not much has changed for you.
The shipping process to the USA remains exactly the same as it has been since the August 29th, 2025 'Executive Order' suspended the long-standing de minimis exemption, which previously allowed shipments under $800 to enter the US duty-free.
Now, most parcels sent to the United States will be subject to duties and taxes, including those over $100 in value and all commercial imports. However, there are some exceptions:
Gifts: Parcels sent from one individual to another, declared as “gift”, with a value of up to $100, remain duty-free, though they are now subject to stricter customs checks.
Documents: The rules do not affect the shipping of documents in letters.
So, if you're simply gifting a friend or family member in the States, you have nothing to worry about. You or your recipient won't be charged any unexpected duties or fees, provided you comply with U.S. customs rules and properly declare your parcel as a "gift" when booking.
On the other hand, if you're a business or seller sending sold items to the USA, you will be charged regardless of the value of your shipment.
We understand that this can be frustrating, but you'll be glad to know we've refined our Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) services with our international partners so that all costs are paid upfront and your customers won’t be left with any surprises.
See below how Parcel2Go's DDP services can speed up shipping to the USA.
Why Choose DDP Services?
To make your shipments to the US as smooth as possible under the new rules, we recommend choosing services with Delivered Duty Paid (DDP). DDP services are the quickest and easiest way to send to the US, speeding up customs clearance as the shipper pays for all duties and taxes before the parcel is sent.
Here are some of our most popular DDP options, starting from just £9.11 - with exclusive lower prices available through Smart Send.
Benefits of DDP Services:
No hidden costs - duties and taxes are paid up front
Faster customs clearance - parcels move through smoothly
Fewer delays - less chance of items being held at the border
If you send without DDP, your recipient may be contacted by US Customs to pay fees before the parcel is released - leading to delays and returns.
To avoid delays and unhappy recipients, always look out for the ‘DDP’ tag when booking your US shipments with Parcel2Go.
Service | Price |
|---|---|
UPS Access Point™ | From £20.69* |
UPS Express Saver® | From £22.69** |
FedEx International Connect Plus | From £19.30 |
FedEx International Connect Plus Drop Off | From £17.59 |
UPS Express® | From £36.26 |
FedEx International Economy® DropOff | From £28.45 |
FedEx International Priority® DropOff | From £29.55 |
FedEx International Economy® | From £31.55 |
FedEx International Priority® | From £33.79 |
Evri Standard Collection | From £9.61 |
Evri Standard Parcelshop | From £9.09 |
*UPS Access Point™ - £17.99 Exclusive to Smart Send
**UPS Express Saver® - £19.99 Exclusive to Smart Send
DDP Services for Small Business
With Delivered Duty Paid, you can keep deliveries seamless while keeping your customers happy.
And with Smart Send, you’ll unlock exclusive rates from some of the world’s most trusted couriers - so your parcels are handled with care and delivered fast.
Best of all, Smart Send is 100% free to use, giving you access to:
Effortless integration with top marketplaces like TikTok, eBay, and Amazon
Automated rules to apply the right services to your sold items - speeding up bookings
End-to-end tracking with accurate updates at every stage
Special discounted rates on selected DDP services such as UPS Access Point™ & UPS Express Saver®
Ship smarter. Save more. And keep your customers coming back.
