Global courier DHL Express has temporarily halted deliveries of goods worth over $800 to American consumers, citing a surge in customs bureaucracy triggered by new U.S. trade policies.
Beginning Monday, DHL Express will suspend all business-to-consumer shipments to the United States valued at more than $800, blaming a “significant increase in formal customs clearances” following the implementation of former President Donald Trump’s revised tariff regime.
The delivery company announced that while shipments between businesses will continue, they too may face delays due to stricter import regulations. Packages valued under $800 will still be delivered with minimal customs processing.
The move follows changes to U.S. customs procedures introduced earlier this month as part of the Trump administration’s broader trade strategy. Previously, packages worth up to $2,500 could enter the U.S. with relatively little paperwork. However, the recent policy changes have lowered the threshold to $800, triggering a dramatic rise in the number of shipments requiring formal customs checks.
“These changes have caused a surge in formal customs clearances, which we are handling around the clock,” DHL said in a statement. “We are working to scale up and manage this increase, but shipments worth over $800 may experience multi-day delays.”
The new customs procedures come ahead of another expected crackdown. On May 2, the U.S. government plans to end the so-called “de minimis” exemption, a loophole that has allowed low-value packages—particularly from China and Hong Kong—to enter the country without paying duties.
The move is expected to hit Chinese e-commerce giants such as Shein and Temu, which rely heavily on low-cost, direct-to-consumer shipping. Both companies have warned of potential price increases due to the tightening trade rules.
The White House has defended the changes as part of a broader effort to combat the import of illicit substances, particularly synthetic opioids. In an executive order, it said the measures are aimed at “addressing the synthetic opioid supply chain,” which it claims is fueling the opioid crisis in the U.S.
Beijing, however, has pushed back, accusing Washington of scapegoating China. Officials in Hong Kong have echoed that sentiment. Last week, Hongkong Post suspended sea mail to the U.S. and announced it would halt all parcel deliveries to America from April 27, calling U.S. trade practices “unreasonable” and “abusive.”
As global delivery networks reel from mounting political and logistical pressures, international businesses are now bracing for longer delays and rising costs in cross-border trade.
