UPS Faces Customer Fury as Tariff Chaos Delays and Destroys Thousands of Packages
Thousands of UPS customers are furious after their shipments were delayed or destroyed following new US customs rules introduced by the Trump administration.
The change ended a long-standing exemption that allowed goods under $800 to enter the country tax-free and without inspection. Now, an estimated 4 million parcels daily must undergo full customs checks, leading to massive backlogs, unexpected costs, and confusion across the logistics industry.
Graduate student Nicole Lobo, who shipped 10 boxes from the UK to Philadelphia in August, was told her belongings might be disposed of. “It’s been horrific,” she said. Others, like engineer Janani Mohan, feared losing sentimental items, including her mother’s wedding sari and family photos.
Businesses have also suffered. Mizuba Tea Co. in Oregon said five shipments worth $100,000 are stuck in customs, while Swedish Candy Land reported losses of $50,000 due to undelivered packages.
UPS admitted that “missing or incomplete shipment data” has caused delays but said it still clears 90% of international parcels within a day. The company insists customers are contacted three times before disposal, though several say they were never warned.
Analysts warn the situation may worsen before improving. FedEx predicts a $1 billion impact this year from higher operating costs tied to the policy shift. Trade experts say the new rules expose how unprepared global supply chains were for the sudden regulatory changes.
