http://www.post.japanpost.jp/whats_n...112_02_c01.pdf
I know a lot of you won't be able to read the bulletin as it is entirely in Japanese, so in a nutshell...
Due to the recent terrorist plot to attack the US using toner cartridges as bombs, the Department of Homeland Defense has decided to up the security on many packages coming in to the United States.
Not only are Yemen-originated packages restricted, but
JAPAN has also been restricted.
Per the Japanese Postal Service (JapanPost), starting 11/17,
all air freight over 453g (i.e. 1 pound) in weight will be restricted from air freight into the US mainland and its territories.
I didn't read it closely or do further research, but it seems like we might still be able to ship it via ocean. Only air freight services have been suspended.
Still...I find this ridiculous. We've had a long standing relationship with Japan, and they're a staunch ally of the US (we can debate endlessly about the ethics of HOW they became our ally, but I digress.). For the Dept. of Homeland Security to come out and restrict packages from a trusted ally like Japan seems ludicrous to me. I know a lot of people who import stuff from Japan that will easily get screwed over by this new policy.
For more information,
here is the statement from the Dept. of Homeland Security
Quote:
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This ban will also apply to certain inbound international air cargo shipments as well.
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What do other people think? Are we getting ahead of ourselves in a vain attempt to keep ourselves 'safe'? If this keeps up, I think pretty soon we're going to start looking at Britain in a very suspicious way.
tl;dr version - hope nobody is ordering JDM parts via air freight, because you're stuck waiting for the boat to arrive now.
(and don't even get me started about trying to get my pillows
)