DHL Stops Shipping Packages Over $800 to US Consumers Amid New Customs Rules
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The global shipping company DHL has announced that it will temporarily stop shipping packages valued over $800 to U.S. consumers in response to new, more stringent U.S. customs rules. The carrier cited the 10% tariffs implemented by the Trump administration in early April, which have subjected parcels worth over $800 to increased scrutiny by U.S. customs inspectors, leading to shipping backlogs.
According to NPR, DHL said that the new policy, which took effect on Monday, would apply to packages of over $800 sent from any foreign country to U.S. consumers. The company will continue to ship business-to-business packages valued over $800 to U.S. companies, but those shipments may face delays.
The changes to U.S. customs rules are part of President Trump’s effort to overhaul the government’s global trade policy, including by closing a loophole known as the de minimis exemption, which allows goods under a certain value to enter the U.S. without being charged import fees or facing rigorous inspections. In early April, the Trump administration moved to end the de minimis exemption for products coming from China and Hong Kong. That change, which goes into effect on May 2, is expected to have an especially significant impact on e-commerce retailers that ship low-cost goods to the U.S., such as Shein and Temu.
DHL said in a statement that the change has caused a surge in formal customs clearances, which it is handling around the clock. “While we are working diligently to scale up and manage this increase, shipments over USD 800—regardless of origin—may experience multi-day delays,” the company said.
When asked for comment by NPR, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson did not directly address DHL’s announcement and provided general information about customs duties. CBP says on its website that so-called formal entry of packages to the U.S. can require shippers to complete “extensive paperwork” and file a CBP bond, while informal entry is “less arduous a process” in which the agency does the paperwork and calculates the duties to be paid.
The new policy has significant implications for consumers and businesses alike. As NPR reports, the changes to U.S. customs rules come as part of President Trump’s effort to overhaul the government’s global trade policy. The de minimis exemption, which has been in place for years, has allowed goods under a certain value to enter the U.S. without being charged import fees or facing rigorous inspections.
According to a report released this year by the Congressional Research Service, the number of de minimis entries to the U.S. jumped from 153 million in 2015 to more than 1 billion in 2023. Currently, de minimis shipments account for 92% of all cargo entering the U.S., the CBP says.
The impact of the new policy on e-commerce retailers is likely to be significant. As NPR notes, e-commerce retailers such as Shein and Temu, which ship low-cost goods to the U.S., are likely to be affected by the changes to U.S. customs rules. The new policy may lead to delays and increased costs for these retailers, which could have a ripple effect on consumers.
In conclusion, DHL’s decision to stop shipping packages over $800 to U.S. consumers is a direct result of the new U.S. customs rules. The changes to U.S. customs rules are part of President Trump’s effort to overhaul the government’s global trade policy. The impact of the new policy on e-commerce retailers and consumers alike is likely to be significant, and it remains to be seen how the changes will affect the global shipping industry.
Image: A DHL delivery vehicle is seen in front of a warehouse in Valence, France, in December 2024. The global shipping company announced it would temporarily stop shipping packages valued over $800 to U.S. consumers. (Nicolas Guyonnet/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)
As reported by NPR, DHL’s new policy is a response to the changing landscape of global trade. The company’s decision to stop shipping packages over $800 to U.S. consumers is a significant development in the global shipping industry.
The image caption reads: “A DHL delivery vehicle is seen in front of a warehouse in Valence, France, in December 2024. The global shipping company announced it would temporarily stop shipping packages valued over $800 to U.S. consumers.”
The source of the article is NPR.
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