Postal services around the world hit pause on shipments to the U.S.

Summary

Marketplace Morning Report: "Postal services around the world hit pause on shipments to the U.S."

Date: August 26, 2025
Host: Nick Qureshi (for the BBC World Service)
Length: ~8 minutes (excluding ads, intros, outros)

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a swift but impactful update on international postal disruptions to the U.S. as new import tariffs come into force. The show explores how global businesses and individuals are reacting to the uncertainty around U.S. import policy changes, and dives into related shifts in trade, airline deals, and commodities like coffee—all within the context of President Trump’s increasingly protectionist trade measures. The reporting blends firsthand accounts, expert analysis, and global market snapshots to illustrate the widespread ripple effects.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Postal Suspensions to the U.S. and Tariff Uncertainty

[00:58]

• Multiple countries, notably Japan and Australia, are suspending postal shipments (except letters) to the U.S. due to confusion over new tariffs.
• President Trump’s recent executive order eliminates the global import tax exemption for packages under $800, previously duty-free, effective Friday.
• The U.S. claims the exemption had been abused by shippers sending illicit drugs.

Impact on Small Businesses

Jess Van Den, an Australian jewelry maker, shares the disruption:

• Can’t comply with U.S. Customs’ request for shippers to collect and remit tariffs because Australian Post lacks the systems.
• Quote: "I've suspended shipping to the U.S. completely because it's so up in the air and we really don't know exactly…what is going to happen." — Jess Van Den [01:43]
• Her business relied on the U.S. for 30-40% of sales; some peers have even higher exposure (up to 90%) and now face sudden shutdowns of their U.S. operations.

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2. Boeing–Korean Air Mega Deal and U.S. Trade Policy Pressure

[02:28]

• Boeing secures a landmark $50B order from Korean Air: 103 planes and GE Aerospace engines.
• Deal is seen as a response to the Trump administration’s pressure on trading partners to buy American.
• Korean Air calls this a "pivotal moment" after meetings between Trump and South Korea’s president.

Segment Summary:
Suranjana Tiwari (Asia Business Correspondent) breaks down deal components:

• New aircraft (787, Triple-Sevens, 737s) worth $36B.
• $13.7B allocated for GE engines and service agreements.

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3. Global Markets Update—Europe and Offshore Wind

[03:30]

• France: Main stock index down 2%, bonds fall, as government faces ouster speculation over planned budget cuts.
• Sweden: Central bank possibly cutting rates by 0.5% to stimulate recovery.
• Orsted (Danish offshore wind giant): Shares drop 16% after Trump orders halt to Rhode Island wind project.

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4. Brazilian Coffee, Import Tariffs, and Small Business Survival

[04:25]

• U.S. imposes 50% tariffs on imports from countries like Brazil.
• Focus: Peter Longo, owner of Puerto Rico Importing Co. in NYC, is hit hard—Brazilian coffee critical to his business.

Real-World Example of Tariff Impacts

• 50 lbs of Brazilian French Roast went from $147.50 to $359.50 post-tariff.
• Quote:
  • "The amount of the tariff is so large that it’s going to really affect the price of the coffee... That coffee is going to go up another $8. That’s going to be in the 20s. That’s crazy. People won’t buy it, you know, $30 a pound. That’s ridiculous." — Peter Longo [04:56]
• Tariffs aim to stimulate U.S. coffee production, but almost all U.S. supply is imported due to geography.
• The supply crunch drives prices up for consumers and threatens business survival.

Small Business Anxiety

• Longo faces cash flow stress and the prospect of shrinking or closing.
• Quote:
  • "Horribly stressed. It keeps me up at night because you have to try to figure out a way to manage your cash flow to anticipate what’s coming." — Peter Longo [06:37]
• Despite uncertainty, he hopes demand for coffee will endure price hikes.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jess Van Den (Jewelry maker, Australia) [01:43]:
  "For the next six months, I've suspended shipping to the US completely because it's so up in the air and we really don't know exactly, exactly what is going to happen."

• Peter Longo (Importer, NYC) [04:56]:
  "That's going to kill the market for Brazilian coffee, which is I guess the purpose. They want to punish Brazil, for whatever reason. So they're putting a draconian tariff on it."

• Peter Longo (on stress) [06:37]:
  "Horribly stressed. Horribly stressed. It keeps me up at night because you have to try to figure out a way to manage your cash flow to anticipate what's coming."

• Erin Delmore (BBC Correspondent) [05:38]:
  "President Trump is remaking the global trade world order through tariffs, charging importers like Peter a fee to bring products in from other countries."

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:58 — Postal suspensions, tariffs on small package imports to the U.S.
• 01:43 — Jess Van Den, real-world business impact of shipping suspension
• 02:28 — Boeing–Korean Air multi-billion dollar deal
• 03:30 — Global markets: France, Sweden, Orsted (wind power)
• 04:25 — Brazilian coffee tariffs hit NYC importer, broader coffee market context

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Summary

In less than ten minutes, this episode sketches the broad, cascading consequences of protectionist shifts in U.S. trade policy. International postal services grinding to a halt for the U.S., disruption to small creatives, giant aircraft deals tied to trade negotiations, and the amplified struggles of U.S. importers—all are presented in tight, impactful stories. The tone is urgent and global, emphasizing not just abstract policies but their real effects on everyday business owners and consumers. The narrative underscores how sudden policy shifts leave businesses scrambling for clarity and survival strategies.

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Transcript

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[Nick Qureshi]

More countries are pressing pause on postal shipments to the US over tariff uncertainty live from the UK this is the Marketplace Morning report from the BBC World Service. Hello, I'm Nick Qureshi, in for Liana Byrne. Japan and Australia are among the latest countries suspending some postal deliveries to the United States, and it's all down to confusion over tariffs. Price President Trump signed an executive order last month ending the global import tax exemption on small packages worth under $800 entering the US duty free. That is due to take effect on Friday, but letters will continue to be accepted. The White House says some shippers have abused that exemption by sending illicit drugs. Australian jewelry maker Jess Van Den says around a third of her business is.

[Jess Van Den]

In the US for the next six months. I've suspended shipping to the US Completely because it's so up in the air and we really don't know exactly, exactly what is going to happen. Apparently the US Customs Service has asked that external shipping companies collect the tariff and remit it on their behalf. Australia Post doesn't have anything set up to do that yet, so we literally can't follow those directives at this time. It's a huge worry. 30 to 40% of my jewelry business was in the US and now I've had to stop that entire part of my business. And I'm not the only one. There's so many people who have even higher percentages. 80, 90% of their business was shipping to the US and now it's basically shut down their business overnight.

[Nick Qureshi]

That was Jess Van Den. US Aviation giant Boeing and Korean Air have announced a multibillion dollar deal for more than 100 planes as president Trump presses trading partners to do more business with American firms. The head of Korean Air says the agreement, announced after the South Korean president Lee Jam Young met Trump in Washington to discuss tariffs, is a pivotal moment for the carrier. The BBC's Asia business correspondent Suranjana Tiwari has more.

[Suranjana Tiwari]

So Korean Air announcing it will make a $50 billion order for 103 Boeing airplanes and GE Aerospace engines and servicing is also included in this. And this is the largest in the Korean air carrier's history. It includes a mix of 787- Triple- Sevens and 737 worth about 36 billion. And the GE deal is for engines and that's valued at about $13.7 billion.

[Nick Qureshi]

Suranjana Tiwari there. Right, let's do some numbers. France's Main stock index fell 2% on opening and bonds tumbled. All this amid speculation the minority government could be ousted over plans for sweeping budget cuts. Analysts think Sweden's central bank could cut its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point this year to kick start a delayed recovery. And shares in the world's biggest offshore wind farm developer closed down more than 16% after President Trump ordered Danish company Orsted to stop work on a site off Rhode island. In the U.S. now, Brazil is one of the countries facing steep 50% tariffs on U.S. imports. While the U.S. government says the so called reciprocal tariffs will help boost domestic production, not everything can be homegrown. That means businesses are feeling the pinch. The the BBC's Erin Delmore reports.

[Peter Longo]

This is a bag of 50 pounds of Brazilian French Roast. It would have been 1:47.50 before the tariff and 359.50 after the tariff.

[Erin Delmore]

Peter Longo's Puerto Rico Importing Company has been a staple on New York City's bleecker Street since 1907. A best seller is Cafe Blend. It's reliant on Brazilian beans. They're now subject to a 50% import tax thanks to President Trump's tariffs.

[Peter Longo]

The amount of the tariff is so large that it's going to really affect the price of the coffee. So for instance, if we're selling coffee for $15.99 and there's a 50% tariff, that coffee is going to go up another $8. That's going to be in the 20s. That's crazy. People won't buy it, you know, $30 a pound. That's ridiculous. That's going to kill the market for Brazilian coffee, which is I guess the purpose. They want to punish Brazil, for whatever reason. So they're putting a draconian tariff on it. More production at home will mean stronger competition and lower prices for consumers.

[Erin Delmore]

President Trump is remaking the global trade world order through tariffs, charging importers like Peter a fee to bring products in from other countries. The goal is to get foreign countries to lower trade barriers and to make foreign made products more expensive so that American made products are more competitive and eventually preferred. That, in turn would spur more manufacturing and production of goods right here in the usa. But coffee isn't really grown in the us it can't be. It's a tropical fruit that grows in a narrow strip of land around the equator. It does grow in some parts of Hawaii and Puerto Rico and a tiny slice of Southern California or. But that's not enough to supply the 450 million cups of coffee Americans drink every day. And so virtually all of it has to be imported. That's why tariffs on coffee producing countries, and especially those 50% tariffs on Brazil, which provides around a third of all coffee consumed in the US is making life hard for importers and sellers like Peter.

[Peter Longo]

Horribly stressed. Horribly stressed. It keeps me up at night because you have to try to figure out a way to manage your cash flow to anticipate what's coming.

[Erin Delmore]

The stakes were high before tariffs were even announced. Back in February, the global price of arabica coffee hit its highest point on record. Even though that's come down a bit, roasted coffee cost consumers 15% more last month than it did a year prior. All of that puts pressure on sellers like Peter.

[Peter Longo]

This is how I make my living, you know, so, you know, if we have to shrink, we'll shrink. And if we have to shrink to the point where we go out of business, there's nothing I can do about it. And we'll do the best we can.

[Erin Delmore]

But he's betting that that morning cup of joe is something people will keep shelling out for, even if it costs them more. I'm the BBC's Erin Delmore for Marketplace.

[Nick Qureshi]

And in the United Kingdom, I'm Nick Qureshi with the Marketplace morning report from the BBC World Service. Back same time tomorrow. Thanks for listening.

[Emily Hanford]

The Trump administration is making deep cuts to education research.

[Erin Delmore]

The cancellation notices started coming when the contract cut.

[Nick Qureshi]

The study just dies.

[Emily Hanford]

It's all happening. Just as schools are trying to make use of research to improve reading instruction.

[Peter Longo]

There would not have been a Science.

[Nick Qureshi]

Of Reading without the federal funding. It wouldn't have happened.

[Emily Hanford]

I'm Emily Hanford. On our new episode of Sold A what the Trump cuts mean for the science of reading, Go to your podcast app and follow Sold a story.