India said it will stop most international postal services to the United States from August 25, 2025, in response to Washington’s recent tariff measures. The Department of Posts explained that the decision came after new customs and duty regulations in the U.S. became effective, which India Post explained it cannot comply with currently. Exempt from this, however, are letters, documents, and gift parcels valued at less than USD 100, which can be shipped.
The suspension comes in the context of deteriorating trade relations. U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Indian exports earlier this month, capped by a further 25% penalty on India’s continued import of Russian oil. The 50% cumulative tariff is one of the highest on a U.S. trade partner and can be expected to affect sectors such as textiles, gems and jewelry, marine products, and auto components.
Indian officials have stressed that negotiations with Washington are continuing. Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said discussions were ongoing but highlighted that India would not compromise on protecting its farmers and small businesses. Trade Minister Piyush Goyal said New Delhi is negotiating with “a very open mind,” even as a U.S. trade delegation visit, which was scheduled for August 25–29, was postponed, lowering expectations of an early deal.
The suspension of mail services will inconvenience individuals and businesses. Small exporters and e-commerce vendors utilize inexpensive mailing routes to send products to customers in the U.S., and the suspension can render it logistically almost impossible for them. Analysts say the move also mirrors India’s growing frustration with Washington’s tariff policy and the broader diplomatic tension between the two countries.
As negotiations are tentative and tariffs are biting into trade flows, the suspension of postal services underscores how rapidly ties between the world’s two largest democracies are fraying. The coming weeks will be significant to determine whether the two sides are able to come to an understanding or tensions escalate further.