SingPost launches new retail postal service to US in response to import rule changes
The service offers two flat-rate packaging options, with upfront calculation of duties and taxes
[SINGAPORE] Singapore Post (SingPost) will from Monday (Sep 15) launch a new postal service to the United States for retail customers, designed in “direct response” to recent changes in US import regulations.
The new Speedpost Direct International (Retail) service builds on a similar corporate-only service launched at end-August, and is aimed at meeting compliance requirements under new US import regulations, which removed “de minimis” exemptions for shipments.
Previously, under the de minimis provision, low-cost shipments at or under US$800 were allowed into the United States tariff-free.
From Aug 29, all items with commercial value shipped to the US have been subject to duties and taxes ranging from 10 to 50 per cent, depending on the product and the country of origin.
SingPost has, since Aug 25, suspended the acceptance of items with commercial value under its standard services.
With the new retail service, two packaging options will be offered: a padded envelope or a box, both provided by SingPost at a flat shipping rate. Delivery will take between five and eight working days.
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Customers with existing packaging will still have their items repacked into the standard envelope or box to ensure compliance and facilitate efficient handling, SingPost said.
The padded envelope, sized at 16.2 by 22.9 centimetres with a limit of 0.5 kilograms, has a flat shipping rate of S$29 before taxes and duties. The box, at 31 cm by 23 cm by 9 cm for items up to 2 kg, has a flat shipping rate of S$69 before taxes and duties.
For both options, each shipment’s value must not exceed US$100.
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The Business Times understands that prior to the imposition of the new US import regulations, parcels could be sent to the US using SingPost’s regular service at S$11.90.
The two new standard packaging options provided by SingPost at a flat shipping rate cover more than 80 per cent of the typical size of SingPost’s shipments to the US.
“The core benefit of this service is its transparency for retail customers,” said Neo Su Yin, group chief operating officer at SingPost. “Our post office staff will assist customers in calculating and collecting all necessary duties and taxes upfront, eliminating the surprise of unexpected fees for the recipient.”
For packages valued above US$100, customers may use the premium Speedpost Express International service instead, which starts at S$159 excluding taxes and duties, with a shorter delivery timeline of three to six working days.
