DHL Halts High-Value Deliveries to the U.S. Amid Tariff Changes

The delivery service remains operational for lower-value packages but warns that delays may become more common for business shipments.

DHL Express has announced a suspension of deliveries to the United States for shipments valued over $800 (£603) as a consequence of heightened customs regulations due to Donald Trump's new tariff policies. This move, effective immediately, reflects a significant uptick in paperwork and customs clearances. While DHL will continue to process business-to-business shipments, these too may encounter delays. Under previous rules, packages up to $2,500 could enter the U.S. with minimal documentation; however, recent customs reforms have lowered the threshold dramatically.

DHL commented that this shift has resulted in a surge of formal customs clearances which they are currently managing around the clock. Shipments priced under $800 remain permissible with minimal checks, but this threshold is projected to change again on May 2, when the White House clamps down on low-value packages from China and Hong Kong. This alteration signals the end of the "de minimis" exemption, affecting businesses like Shein and Temu, who have already indicated they will need to raise prices in response to these trade rule shifts.

The Trump administration has defended this move by claiming that Chinese shippers often use deceptive practices to conceal illicit goods sent to the U.S., particularly stating that these measures target the opioid crisis attributed to synthetic substances like fentanyl. In reaction, Beijing has stated that the opioid issue is a domestic challenge for the U.S., highlighting China's strict drug policies.

Moreover, the impact of these new tariffs is already being felt, as evidenced by Hongkong Post's announcement last week to cease sea shipments to the U.S. and stop accepting packages for America entirely starting April 27. Their statement characterized U.S. actions as unreasonable and overly aggressive, hinting at a potential strain on the international shipping relationship amid escalating trade tensions.