THE U.S. Postal Service said mail and package delivery between the U.S. mainland and its Pacific territories will continue without interruption despite recent changes to customs procedures under a federal executive order.
In a statement Tuesday morning, John Hyatt, a USPS communications representative, assured residents of Guam and the Northern Marianas that mail and packages sent to the 50 states will continue to be “accepted, transported, and delivered” without disruption.
To comply with the new de minimis executive order, which affects how duties are assessed on low-value shipments, USPS has partnered with a third party approved by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Hyatt said.
This partnership ensures that any applicable duties are paid, allowing goods to flow smoothly while adhering to federal customs regulations, he added.
No changes for incoming mail to territories
Hyatt said mail and packages sent from the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia to U.S. territories, including Guam and the CNMI, are not affected by the new directive. Residents can continue to receive items from the mainland without additional customs procedures or delays.
Last week, residents of Guam and the CNMI expressed concern that the federal customs changes could impact everyday mail services, particularly for those who rely on USPS for essential goods, medications, and business shipments.
Representatives for DHL, United Parcel Service, and FedEx in Saipan told Variety that President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14324, which eliminated the exemption allowing packages under $800 to enter the U.S. without duties or extra paperwork, has not affected their operations.
FedEx representative Earl Mirano said, “We continue to deliver mail and packages from CNMI to the U.S. mainland and international packages to the CNMI.”
Roma Barlao, a UPS supervisor, said their inbound and outbound operations were unaffected.
A DHL representative, who asked to remain anonymous, said their operations are normal and any additional shipping fees are already reflected in DHL’s online shipping portal.
