DHL has announced it will suspend the delivery of packages exceeding $800 in value to U.S. consumers. This decision, effective until further notice, comes amid delays in customs processing prompted by recent changes in U.S. tariff policies under President Donald Trump’s administration.
As per a statement from the German logistics and shipping giant, the suspension is a response to modifications in U.S. customs regulations, which have reduced the threshold for formal package processing from $2,500 to $800 as of April 5. This revision has led to an increase in cases requiring formal customs clearance, challenging DHL’s operational capacity.
Beginning Monday, April 21, DHL will enforce this shipping halt for parcels surpassing the $800 limit originating from any location. Business-to-business transactions or consumer deliveries under $800 will remain unaffected by this new policy. However, even these exempt shipments could experience significant delays due to the congestion at U.S. customs.
Concurrently, the postal service in Hong Kong, HongKong Post, announced it would stop shipping parcels to the U.S. by sea starting April 27. This suspension relates to the U.S. tariffs policy changes and the elimination of the “de minimis” provision, which had exempted packages valued under $800 from customs procedures. From May 2, such shipments will incur a 90% tariff or a $75 flat fee.
The removal of the “de minimis” provision is viewed as a strategy aimed at Chinese e-retailers, such as Temu and Shein, popular among American consumers. Both companies have indicated potential price increases in response to these tariffs.
These mail tariffs are part of a broader trade conflict between the U.S. and China, with each nation imposing substantial tariffs on the other over recent weeks. The trade tensions initially arose when President Trump introduced extensive tariffs on numerous U.S. trading partners, subsequently suspending those tariffs for all but China, which is currently subject to a 145% tariff. In retaliation, China imposed a 125% tariff.
HongKong Post has expressed its opposition to the U.S.’s new trade strategy, which it described as “unreasonable and bullying acts,” and affirmed it would not facilitate the collection of U.S. tariffs within its operations.
