The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) reversed its decision and lifted the earlier suspension on all inbound packages from the postal services in China and Hong Kong.

The U.S. federal government-owned and operated postal service said in an alert on its website that the new change is effective February 5, Wednesday.

USPS did not provide a reason for the lifting of the temporary halt on international acceptance of inbound parcels from China and Hong Kong posts that it announced hours earlier.

"Effective February 5, 2025, the Postal Service will continue accepting all international inbound mail and packages from China and Hong Kong Posts," USPS said.

"The USPS and Customs and Border Protection are working closely together to implement an efficient collection mechanism for the new China tariffs to ensure the least disruption to package delivery," it added.

This development comes in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's recent executive orders imposing tariffs on imports from several countries, including China, Mexico, and Canada. While Trump announced a 30-day delay on the 25% tariffs for Canada and Mexico, the additional 10% tax on Chinese imports is still applicable.

One key aspect of the executive orders is the revocation of the "de minimis" trade provision, which previously allowed shipments valued at less than US$800 to enter the U.S. duty-free.

This regulation has played a crucial role in enabling Chinese e-commerce firms like Shein and Temu to enter and grow in the U.S. market. It remains unclear if the recent temporary halt is related to Trump's directive that ceased de minimis shipments from China, which was announced on Saturday and took effect just after midnight on Tuesday.

Both China Post and Hong Kong Post are government-operated mail services.

Meanwhile, the suspension would have also impacted packages shipped from China and Hong Kong through private courier services.

"Considering the suspension of shipments of goods originating from China, we are working with our customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders to navigate these changes, avoid disruptions to supply chains and limit adverse impact on U.S. importers and consumers," a DHL spokesperson said when sought for comment.

FedEx told Asia Cargo News in a separate statement: "We remain focused on supporting our customers and working with them to adapt to the substantial changes resulting from the recent tariff announcements. FedEx has an experienced team of clearance and compliance experts who are working around the clock to continue enabling the movement of shipments across the borders of the more than 220 countries and territories we serve." 

"We can confirm that shipments continue to move through our network between the U.S. and China as we adapt to compliance changes," it said.

USPS has typically been an affordable choice for small sellers in China when shipping packages to the U.S. The recent suspension could have resulted in higher expenses for sellers and increased prices for consumers.