CTT Halts US Shipments: Why Portuguese Parcels Are Stuck

Months after the United States overhauled its customs regulations, Portugal’s national postal service, CTT, has yet to restore standard parcel delivery to the US. While major European postal operators adapted to the new American requirements by the fall of 2025, Portuguese individuals and small businesses remain without an accessible, standard-rate shipping route across the Atlantic.

The Catalyst: The End of US De Minimis

The global shipping disruption was triggered by US Executive Order 14324, which went into effect on August 29, 2025. The order globally suspended the long-standing “de minimis” duty exemption, which previously allowed low-value goods to enter the United States free of customs duties.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) mandated that all inbound goods undergo new compliance procedures. Carriers and approved “qualified parties” are now required to actively collect and remit duties for postal shipments.

The CBP’s “Global Guidance for International Mail” provided a phased transition:

• Phase 1 (Current): Operators can use either an ad valorem rate or a temporary “specific duty” methodology.
• Phase 2 (Deadline - February 28, 2026): The specific duty option expires, requiring a full transition to ad valorem data collection and remittance.

CTT’s Ongoing Suspension

In response to the US mandate, CTT halted the standard transport of US-bound goods on August 26, 2025. Three days later, the restriction was expanded to include gifts and personal offers.

Today, the suspension remains officially listed as "temporary," but ordinary senders using standard mail can only send documents. To ship goods, Portuguese consumers must use CTT’s contracted business service, “Expresso Internacional Premium.” Under this tier, duties are passed to the US recipient, and CTT applies an additional US$17 customs presentation fee.

Regulators at ANACOM and representatives at CTT have indicated internally that work is underway to adapt to the US changes, but no firm timeline for service restoration has been publicly provided. Consumer protection organization DECO PROteste has since had to issue guidance warning Portuguese senders of the new rules and associated costs.

How the Rest of Europe Adapted

When the US mandate took effect, postal networks worldwide experienced immediate disruptions. However, within weeks, several major European operators resumed US-bound traffic by implementing Postal Delivered Duties Paid (PDDP) systems. PDDP models calculate and collect VAT and duties at the point of sale, preventing surprise fees for the recipient on delivery.

Key European resumptions included:

• PostNL (Netherlands): Reopened US parcel shipping on September 19, 2025.
• Deutsche Post / DHL Parcel (Germany): Restored US shipments for business customers on September 25, 2025, mandating PDDP booking for specific categories.
• Correos (Spain): Resumed accepting "all types of shipments" on October 3, 2025, after adapting internal processes.
• PostNord (Nordics): Resumed US and Puerto Rico shipments on October 23, 2025, via a new PDDP service.
• Royal Mail (UK): Implemented a comprehensive PDDP service managed through overseas partners to handle upfront duty collection.

Questions of Universal Service Obligations

CTT’s extended delay in implementing a similar PDDP system raises regulatory questions domestically. Under Portugal’s Law No. 17/2012, the universal postal service must provide a permanent, accessible, and high-quality service across the national territory. The law explicitly encompasses international postal services and parcels weighing up to 10kg.

As the February 2026 deadline for full US customs compliance approaches, it remains to be seen whether regulators will view a multi-month suspension of standard international parcel delivery as compatible with these legal obligations.