Nigerians sending parcels to the United States will now be expected to pay a $80 customs duty on all shipments except letters and documents, the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has announced.
The Nigerian agency explained that the new $80 customs duty is due to a recent U.S. Executive Order signed by President Donald Trump, titled “Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries,” under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the de minimis exemption is a trade rule that allows goods valued below a certain threshold to enter a country without customs duty or tax.
The policy, effective immediately, is set to impact global logistics and increase costs for Nigerian exporters and individuals shipping to the U.S.
The NIPOST explained that the new charge, equivalent to its Naira value, applies to all non-document shipments, including parcels and packages, and will be collected at the point of acceptance in Nigeria.
According to NIPOST’s Director of Corporate Communications, Ibrahim Musa, the $80 fee is a US-imposed customs duty, with NIPOST tasked with its collection.
The statement reads: “The Nigerian Postal Service wishes to inform our esteemed customers of a recent policy change by the Government of the United States of America, enacted through the Executive Order on ‘Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries’ under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
“This Executive Order applies to all postal operators and designated postal administrations worldwide, and the payment of the additional duty affects all global postal inflows into the United States, not just those from Nigeria.
“Global logistics operations are also being affected, as airline and cargo carriers adopt more cautious measures in handling U.S.-bound shipments. This may extend both transit and processing times, potentially resulting in delivery delays.”
