Graduate student Nicole Lobo moved back to the US in late August after a year in the UK, shipping 10 boxes of possessions back home to Philadelphia that she expected to arrive within a few days. Six weeks later, she is still waiting for the shipment and fears it is lost, destroyed by UPS as the company struggles to handle a flood of packages facing new customs and tariff rules. It's been horrific, says the 28-year-old, who was notified last month that her boxes would be disposed of, leading her to make frantic phone calls and send emails to prevent this outcome.
This situation is not isolated; many UPS customers are experiencing similar challenges since the Trump administration halted allowing parcels worth less than $800 to enter the US without inspection, taxes, or tariffs. As a result, an estimated 4 million packages each day are now subject to more stringent processing and documentation, leading to significant delays.
Janani Mohan, a 29-year-old engineer in Michigan, also faces distress as her package containing her wedding dress and heirloom sari is in jeopardy. I literally cried to them on the phone, she recounts, explaining the emotional toll of potentially losing treasured family items.
The chaos extends beyond personal packages to businesses, with companies like Mizuba Tea Co reporting shipments worth over $100,000 stuck in processing limbo. Swedish Candy Land has faced a $50,000 loss due to packages being held up or destroyed.
These disruptions are a direct consequence of rapid changes to tariff regulations, leaving both individuals and businesses scrambling to adapt to new customs challenges. While companies like UPS and FedEx are working through the backlog, experts warn that the current situation may worsen before improvements are seen.
Overall, these new customs policies are reshaping the landscape of international shipping, impacting customer trust and business operations across the board.
This situation is not isolated; many UPS customers are experiencing similar challenges since the Trump administration halted allowing parcels worth less than $800 to enter the US without inspection, taxes, or tariffs. As a result, an estimated 4 million packages each day are now subject to more stringent processing and documentation, leading to significant delays.
Janani Mohan, a 29-year-old engineer in Michigan, also faces distress as her package containing her wedding dress and heirloom sari is in jeopardy. I literally cried to them on the phone, she recounts, explaining the emotional toll of potentially losing treasured family items.
The chaos extends beyond personal packages to businesses, with companies like Mizuba Tea Co reporting shipments worth over $100,000 stuck in processing limbo. Swedish Candy Land has faced a $50,000 loss due to packages being held up or destroyed.
These disruptions are a direct consequence of rapid changes to tariff regulations, leaving both individuals and businesses scrambling to adapt to new customs challenges. While companies like UPS and FedEx are working through the backlog, experts warn that the current situation may worsen before improvements are seen.
Overall, these new customs policies are reshaping the landscape of international shipping, impacting customer trust and business operations across the board.
