In a significant development, DHL Express has announced a temporary suspension of deliveries to the United States for shipments valued over $800 (£603), citing "an overwhelming increase" in customs regulations following former President Donald Trump's latest tariff policies. This pause, effective immediately for all international shipments to US consumers, is aimed at easing the backlog caused by new customs protocols introduced earlier this month.
While DHL maintains that business-to-business shipments will continue, delays are anticipated as the company works to cope with the surge in formal customs clearances now required for packages. The previous threshold for shipments entering the US with minimal documentation was $2,500, but due to the tightening of regulations, it has been reduced significantly.
Despite the restrictions, DHL confirmed it would still facilitate deliveries of packages valued below $800, which are subject to lighter scrutiny. However, a new regulation set to take effect on May 2 will tighten controls on low-value shipments—particularly those from China and Hong Kong—by removing the longstanding "de minimis" rule that exempted such packages from duties.
This impending change is expected to affect many companies, including popular fast-fashion retailers like Shein and Temu. Both brands have indicated that consumers might face price increases as a direct result of the evolving global trade landscape.
The Trump administration has expressed concerns that certain shipments from China may contain illicit materials, emphasizing measures to address the crisis of synthetic opioids in the US. As Beijing refutes these claims, labeling the opioid dilemma as a domestic issue for the US, tensions between the nations continue to escalate.
In parallel, Hongkong Post has announced its own suspensions of sea-borne packages to the US, illustrating the broader impact of the tariff changes on international shipping benchmarks.
