DHL Express has announced that it will temporarily halt deliveries to the United States for packages valued over $800 due to a “significant increase” in customs paperwork following the implementation of new tariffs under President Donald Trump’s trade policies.
The delivery giant stated that it will cease shipments from companies worldwide to American consumers starting Monday, “until further notice.” However, business-to-business shipments will continue, although they may face delays.
Previously, packages worth up to $2,500 could enter the US with minimal documentation. But with the introduction of tighter customs checks under Trump’s new tariff regime earlier this month, the threshold has now been lowered to $800. This has led to a surge in the need for formal customs clearances, which DHL is handling around the clock.
While DHL continues to deliver packages worth less than $800 with minimal checks, the company warned that shipments exceeding this value could face multi-day delays.
In addition, the White House is set to impose stricter controls on deliveries under $800, particularly those originating from China and Hong Kong, starting May 2. This change will close a loophole that allowed low-value packages to enter the US duty-free. The removal of the “de minimis” rule is expected to impact companies like Shein and Temu, which rely on low-cost international shipping.
Both Shein and Temu have indicated that they will raise prices in response to the recent shifts in global trade rules and tariffs. The Trump administration has argued that many shipments from China conceal illicit substances, including fentanyl, and that these measures are intended to address the synthetic opioid crisis in the US.
