Indian businesses are facing mounting pressure as the country suspends most U.S.-bound parcel services from Monday.
The latest move by India is an response to fresh U.S. customs policies, including the removal of the exemption that previously allowed goods valued under 800 U.S. dollars to enter the U.S. free of duties and formal customs entry procedures.
For the last few days, Devender Rai, a handicrafts vendor in Delhi, has been preparing a catalog of his products for a buyer in the United States. However, the news of the new regulation has forced him to change plans.
"People who used to request us to send artifacts in small parcels will stop completely, because who will pay the duty on such items? We are still struggling to recover from the business slump caused by COVID-19, and many artisans have already lost their jobs. This new regulation will further threaten our livelihoods," said Rai.
Compounding the woes of millions of Indians business owners who ship parcels to their American clients, India Post has suspended delivery services to the U.S. due to a lack of clarity on the new norms.
As a result, senders have to use alternative services, adding significantly to shipping costs. However, service providers say they offer greater reliability.
"We ensure the parcels are handled with care and dispatched promptly. That's our main focus. When senders pay more, they expect professional services. With the suspension of the government postal service, the burden on the sender will increase," said N K Malik, a branch manager of Trackon Courier.
According to business advocates in the country, Indian producers will eventually be able to adjust, while the increased cost will be passed on to American consumers.
"The industry has to do the backwards calculation. They have to build the duty into the pricing. But since it will apply uniformly, it's not the Indian exporter who will not be at a disadvantage. To a large extent, this will pass on to the U.S. households, and that's the price that the U.S. households will have to pay. So, I'm looking at disruption for a month or so," said Ajay Sahai, CEO of the Federation of Indian Export Organizations.
For now, exceptions to the postal service suspension will be made only for documents and gifts worth up to 100 U.S. dollars, the postal department said in a statement.
Indian businesses reel from suspension of parcel service to US
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
