**Global:** DHL Express halts deliveries to the US for packages over $800 due to stricter customs following new US tariffs. The move affects global shipments, adds delays, and follows the upcoming removal of duty-free rules on low-value parcels from China and Hong Kong, amid US-China trade tensions.
DHL Express has announced the suspension of deliveries to the United States for packages valued at more than $800 (£603) due to a significant increase in customs procedures following the introduction of new tariff measures by the US government. This decision, effective from Monday, affects shipments from companies in all countries to American consumers and will remain in place until further notice.
Previously, shipments worth up to $2,500 could enter the US with minimal paperwork. However, tighter customs checks implemented alongside the tariff regime introduced under former President Donald Trump earlier this month have lowered this threshold to $800. DHL reported that this has led to a surge in formal customs clearances, which the company is managing around the clock. Despite efforts to scale up operations, shipments exceeding the new $800 limit may face multi-day delays.
While DHL will continue to deliver packages valued under $800, those shipments will still be subject to minimal customs scrutiny. Nevertheless, further changes are anticipated. From 2 May, the White House plans to remove the “de minimis” rule that currently allows low-value parcels—especially those from China and Hong Kong—to enter the US duty-free. This policy shift is expected to impact retailers such as fast-fashion company Shein and discount retailer Temu, both of which have already warned of impending price increases due to “recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs.”
The US administration has justified these measures by citing concerns over illicit substances, particularly synthetic opioids, being concealed within shipments from China. An executive order issued by the White House states that the new customs controls aim to tackle the synthetic opioid supply chain, which it describes as playing a “significant role in the synthetic opioid crisis in the US.”
China, in response, has condemned these assertions, stating that fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is a “US problem.” The Chinese government emphasises that it enforces some of the strictest drug policies worldwide.
In addition to DHL’s suspension, the postal service of Hong Kong, Hongkong Post, announced last week that it would cease accepting and sending packages destined for the US by sea from 27 April. Their statement criticised US policies as “unreasonable,” accusing American authorities of “bullying and imposing tariffs abusively.”
This sequence of developments marks a considerable escalation in trade and customs enforcement between the US and other international partners, particularly China and Hong Kong, with widespread implications for international shipping, retail pricing, and customs procedures.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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