See You Soon America, A Short Farewell to Our U.S. Friends

Update: 3rd September 2025

We’re delighted to share some good news with our U.S. customers — shipping to the United States has now been reinstated. Thanks to the introduction of Delivered Duties Paid (PDDP) services via Royal Mail, we can once again send orders across the Atlantic without the risk of unexpected customs fees on delivery.

This means you can continue ordering our personalised gifts with confidence, knowing that duties and taxes are handled upfront — no surprises, no delays. We’re so pleased to be back with you earlier than expected, and we can’t wait to start creating for our American customers again.

We’ll miss you, America — but this isn’t goodbye. Changes to the U.S. de minimis exemption mean we have no choice but to pause all U.S. shipping from 17 August 2025 to protect customers from new, expensive tariffs.

From Sunday 17 August 2025, we’ll be taking the unfortunate but necessary step of pausing all orders to the United States across our website and marketplaces — a decision we’re genuinely upset about.

The changes happening in U.S. import rules at the end of August are affecting thousands of small businesses in the UK, across Europe, and around the world. For some — especially those who rely heavily on the U.S. market — the next six months will be incredibly difficult, and sadly, some may not recover.

We feel this deeply because we’re one of those small businesses feeling the impact. We know the long hours, the passion, and the care that go into running a small creative business, and we know exactly how it feels to see a major market suddenly become much harder — and much more expensive — to serve.

What’s Happened?

The de minimis exemption has, for decades, allowed low-value goods to enter the U.S. without duties or taxes. It was designed to speed up customs clearance for U.S. citizens and keep costs low for consumers and small businesses alike.

This $800 de minimis exemption has been a lifeline for small international sellers — as well as for U.S. customers wanting to buy unique items from around the world. It meant we, and companies like ours, could send personalised, one-off gifts quickly and affordably to the U.S., without your parcel being held up for tax payments.

• July 2025 — The U.S. government passed a comprehensive trade and budget bill, setting the end of the de minimis exemption for July 2027, allowing time to prepare.
• 30 July 2025 — An executive order, signed by the U.S. President, brought the end date forward to 29 August 2025.
• From 29 August 2025 — All international parcels, regardless of value, will face import duties and taxes and require full customs processing.

If you live in the U.S. and have bought from certain countries recently, you may already have seen extra charges at checkout or on delivery. From late August, this will unfortunately become standard for all international shipments.

For businesses large and small worldwide, this means immediate operational changes. For many smaller businesses, it may mean pausing altogether — not because we want to, but because the alternative is risking customers paying far more in unexpected fees than the item itself.

Why a 6-Month Pause in Shipping to the USA?

During the transition period (up until March 2026), while the U.S. gets its processes in place, all parcels — even small, low-cost items — are likely to face flat customs fees of $80–$200.

Here at A Gift of Happiness, we believe in transparent pricing and fair treatment. We feel the high potential for a flat customs fee of $80–$200, along with possible customs delays, simply isn’t fair for our customers.

Why We’re Pausing U.S. Orders Earlier Than 29 August

We want to make sure none of our U.S. customers get caught in the changeover. With our standard 5–7 working day delivery, orders placed close to 29 August could easily arrive after the new tariffs begin — especially if there are any delays in UK transit.

By pausing on 17 August, we give our U.S. parcels the best possible chance of arriving before the changes hit. We plan to resume shipping in March 2026, when the fairer value-based tariffs are expected to replace flat fees.

What This Means for You as a U.S. Customer

• Orders placed before 16 August 2025 will be shipped as usual and should arrive before the new rules start.
• From 17 August 2025, U.S. checkout will be disabled until March 2026.
• We’ll continue creating our range of bespoke personalised gifts to the rest of the world with no changes.
• If anything changes with U.S. import duty before March 2026, we’ll update you right away — please sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates.

Our Plan to Return in March 2026

By March 2026, postal shipments should move to more predictable ad valorem duties — likely around 10% for our products. That’s a far more manageable and transparent cost for customers.

When that happens, we’ll reopen to U.S. customers across our website and marketplaces — with fair prices, clear communication, and our full range ready to make your moments special again.

A Heartfelt Thank You

To our U.S. customers — we’d like to say a heartfelt thank you for your loyalty, kindness, and support over the years.

We know this is a challenging time for many small businesses around the world. We stand in solidarity with every independent maker and creator navigating the same storm — because we’re right there with you.

This isn’t goodbye, USA. It’s a pause. And when we return, it will be with open arms, fair prices, and our full range ready to make your moments special again.

Until then, please stay connected with us through our newsletter for updates and behind-the-scenes stories. And as always, if you need any support with an existing order during this time, send us a message — we’ll be more than happy to help.

Lots of love to our American customers from all of us at A Gift of Happiness ❤️🤍💙

Read the official White House announcement.