Some Americans abroad can’t send mail to U.S. because of tariffs

Since President Donald Trump’s latest push in tariffs, shoppers are seeing higher costs for foreign goods. Postal traffic to the United States has plunged.

And Christy Sweet is running out of days to prove to the government that she’s still alive.

The 64-year-old American living in Thailand must mail a Social Security form required annually for beneficiaries living abroad within 60 days to get her retirement benefits, but there has been an unexpected problem: Her local mail office told her that she can’t mail anything to the U.S. without paying $65 for a premium shipping service. She has scoured the Social Security website, sought help from Thai and U.S. officials, and considered paying to ensure that she can continue getting her only income, an $800-per-month retirement check.