Africa’s two largest economies are grappling with fallout from Washington’s tariff crackdown, with Nigeria and South Africa scrambling to adjust their postal services under sweeping new rules imposed by the United States.
The South African Post Office (SAPO) announced on Friday that it had indefinitely suspended all parcel deliveries to the US, citing the heavy compliance burden created by the new regulations.
While letters, documents, and exempted mail such as military correspondence will continue to be delivered, all other goods are on hold.
“Given the complex processes required to comply with the new regulation, we have no choice but to temporarily suspend these shipments,” SAPO said in a statement. “We regret any inconvenience this may cause to our customers,” it added.
The move follows President Donald Trump’s decision to revoke duty-free access for international parcels, eliminating the de minimis exemption that had allowed small packages valued at $800 or less to enter the US without duty.
The exemption was first lifted for China in May before being extended worldwide through an executive order last month.
Washington defended the clampdown under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, saying the loophole was being abused for tariff evasion and the smuggling of illegal drugs such as fentanyl.
The ripple effects are already being felt across global postal networks, with postal services in Japan, Britain, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, and India announcing similar suspensions or restrictions, according to Business Insider.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has also moved to comply. The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) said that starting August 29, all shipments from Nigeria to the US, apart from letters and documents, will carry a mandatory prepaid customs duty of $80 or its naira equivalent.
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In a public notice, NIPOST stated, “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.”
The agency stressed that the directive applies globally: “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.”
Defending the measure, Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro told reporters that it helps curb the flow of “narcotics and other dangerous and prohibited items” while generating new tariff revenues.
Under the new system, packages will face either country-specific tariff rates or a fixed duty of between $80 and $200 per item, with some exemptions for personal items and gifts.
In South Africa, the burden is intensified by SAPO’s financial struggles.
The state-owned company has been under business rescue since 2023 after years of shrinking mail volumes, rising debt, and operational setbacks.
For Nigerian exporters, the consequences are particularly severe. Analysts warn that the new $80 duty will “significantly raise costs for Nigerian SMEs, e-commerce vendors, and individuals who send small parcels to the United States. For many low-value goods, this charge may exceed the shipment’s actual worth, making small exports uneconomical.”
With both Nigeria and South Africa caught in the storm, Africa’s two largest economies now face fresh obstacles in already fragile trade landscapes.
For e-commerce vendors, artisans, and small businesses that depend on affordable cross-border logistics, the US policy represents more than a customs change, it is a direct threat to survival in an increasingly protectionist global economy.
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Image Credit: Nairametrics
