An Post has said it will maintain its parcel services to the US despite plans by the government to impose new taxes on parcels entering the country.

The company said a tax-free 'de minimus' allowance from the US for parcel contents of less than $800 in value being posted from Europe is due to end on August 29.

The only exceptions to the ruling are traditional letters, documents, and parcels containing gifts valued at less than $100.

Parcels originating from Europe that contain goods must have taxes paid on those goods before they enter the US for delivery.

An Post said that while a large volume of parcels being posted from Ireland to the US are gifts with stated values lower than $100m, "this 'de minimus' cessation by the US administration will disrupt some Irish trade into the US".

In a statement, the company said the change "risks causing confusion, delay and inconvenience for sending and receiving customers".

"Rather than simply suspend all parcel services to the US, as some other European postal carriers are planning, An Post is actively seeking a solution for Irish companies selling into the US through the postal service so that we can support them and the Irish economy by keeping trade routes open," it said.

"This will involve the receiving US customers having to pay the required duties locally before delivery can be completed. We want to assure Irish customers that we are working on their behalf and will advise them of the new arrangements for their US parcels in the coming days.

"An Post is also directly contacting Irish business customers who sell goods into the US through the postal service," it added.

Photo: Garrett Bridgeman, Managing Director of An Post Mails & Parcels, with Russell Gummerson, HGV Driver at An Post, and Owen Keogh, Head of Sustainability at An Post. (Pic: Maxwells Dublin)