DHL Halts High-Value Global Shipments to U.S. Consumers Amid Rising Tariffs

DHL Express says it will stop sending global business-to-consumer goods worth more than $800 to people in the US starting April 21 because changes to U.S. customs rules have made the clearance process longer.

There was no date on a notice on the business website, but its metadata showed that it was made on Saturday.

The delay was caused by new U.S. customs rules that require all shipments worth more than $800 to go through official entry processing. DHL, which is part of Deutsche Post, said this was their fault. Before April 5, the least one could have was $2,000.

Business-to-business packages would not be stopped by DHL, but they might be delayed. Neither businesses nor customers who bought things less than $800 were affected by the changes.

As the company said in its announcement, this is only a short-term fix.

When asked by Reuters last week, DHL said it would keep handling shipments from Hong Kong to the US “in line with the applicable customs rules and regulations” and would “work with our customers to help them understand and adapt to the changes that are planned for May 2.”

Before sending that message, Hong Kong Post said it would stop sending mail for goods sent by sea to the U.S. They said the U.S. was “bullying” them because it stopped tariff-free trade for packages from China and Hong Kong.