International shipping giant DHL has announced a temporary suspension of package deliveries to U.S. consumers for shipments valued over $800, citing a dramatic rise in formal customs clearance requirements.
The move follows new U.S. Customs regulations introduced under the Trump administration’s tariff policy, which slashed the threshold for formal entry processing from $2,500 to $800.
This change, effective April 5, 2025, has overwhelmed DHL with customs paperwork, particularly affecting direct-to-consumer (B2C) shipments from platforms like Shein, Temu, and many other Chinese sellers. In response, DHL will halt shipments over $800 to private individuals in the U.S. starting April 21, 2025, until further notice.
The disruption comes just days before the May 2nd expiration of the de minimis exemption, a rule that previously allowed Americans to receive up to $800 worth of goods per day duty-free. Once it ends, all such shipments will be subject to duties and taxes, further straining cross-border ecommerce.
DHL says it’s working around the clock to scale operations and minimize delays, but warns that multi-day holdups are likely for all high-value packages, regardless of origin.
