DHL suspends high value US deliveries over tariffs

DHL, a well-known delivery service, has announced that it will temporarily halt shipments to the United States for packages valued over $800. This decision comes in response to a significant increase in customs regulations following the implementation of new tariffs by President Donald Trump. Starting Monday, DHL will stop sending these high-value packages from all countries to American consumers until further notice. However, the company has stated that business-to-business shipments will continue, although they may also experience delays. Previously, packages worth up to $2,500 could enter the US with minimal paperwork, but due to the stricter customs checks that began with Trump's tariffs earlier this month, the threshold has now been lowered to $800. DHL explained that this change has resulted in a surge of formal customs clearances, which they are managing around the clock. They also mentioned that while they are working to handle this increase, shipments valued over $800 may face multi-day delays. nnDHL will still deliver packages worth less than $800, as these can be sent to the US with fewer checks. However, the White House is planning to tighten regulations on deliveries under $800, particularly those coming from China and Hong Kong. This new rule is set to take effect on May 2, when the government will close a loophole that allowed low-value packages to enter the US without incurring any duties. This change will have a significant impact on companies like Shein and Temu, which are popular for their affordable fashion and retail products. Both companies have warned that they will need to raise their prices due to the recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs. nnThe White House has expressed concerns that many shippers in China are using deceptive practices to hide illegal substances and misrepresent the contents of their shipments to the US. Under an executive order, the government stated that these measures are aimed at addressing the supply chain of synthetic opioids, which they believe play a significant role in the ongoing opioid crisis in the US. In response, China has claimed that the issue of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, is primarily a US problem and emphasized that it has some of the strictest drug policies in the world. Last week, Hongkong Post announced that it would suspend packages sent to the US by sea and would stop accepting parcels destined for America starting April 27. They criticized the US, stating that it is being unreasonable and bullying them with these tariffs.