DHL has stopped package deliveries into the UK just days before Christmas.
Deutsche Post DHL said it was halting all deliveries of parcels to Britain because of transport restrictions put in place by many countries following a new, apparently more virulent strain of the coronavirus.
Countries including Germany banned flights and other arrivals from Britain after the government announced a new variant of the virus seemed to be spreading far faster than previous kinds.
The bans caused huge backlogs at ports in Britain, including the Port of Dover which had to close.
“Regrettably, we are forced to completely halt deliveries of packages and letters containing goods to Britain and Ireland from now until further notice,” the German postal and logistics company said.
Letters and postcards would still be delivered, it added.
It comes as new border restrictions in France led to the closure of key trade routes in Kent.
The Port of Dover's boss has warned the situation is likely to have severe ramifications for UK trade, which in recent days has seen around 10,000 lorries passing through the port every 24 hours.
Around 4,000 lorries had intended to leave the UK through Dover but arrivals at the port are being met with signs saying "French borders closed".
France has placed a ban on hauliers crossing the English Channel with their cargo.
The busy Kent port handles more than £120 billion in trade every year so any disruption could be keenly felt.
James Withers, chief executive of Scotland Food & Drink, has said urgent action is needed to protect "perishable products worth millions".
He said: "We need the ban on freight moving across the English Channel lifted in the next 24 hours so products can start moving by Tuesday morning at the latest.
"We have heard from companies with dozens of lorries now stuck, having travelled overnight to Dover or the Eurotunnel which are now shut to incoming traffic.
"They are carrying perishable products worth millions and the clock is ticking for that product to survive these delays.
"We estimate there will be over £5 million of Scottish food that would be been heading into France daily this week."
A total of 9.28 million tonnes of cargo travelled out of the country through Dover in 2019, the fifth largest amount for any port in England.
Several European countries have restricted travel from and to the UK after a new strain of Covid-19, which is more transmissible than the original one, was identified.
