DHL Express has temporarily halted international deliveries to the United States exceeding $800 in value, citing operational strain from abrupt changes to U.S. customs protocols linked to President Donald Trump’s revised tariff policies.
The suspension, effective immediately, applies to all business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments globally, while business-to-business (B2B) deliveries will continue but face potential delays due to heightened inspections.
The logistics firm attributed the decision to a “significant increase” in customs paperwork after the U.S. lowered its threshold for simplified clearance from $2,500 to $800, a move tied to Trump’s broader efforts to close trade loopholes and impose stricter tariffs on Chinese imports. DHL warned that packages above the new limit now require formal clearance processes, creating bottlenecks that could delay shipments by several days. Items under $800 will undergo minimal checks under the existing “de minimis” rule, though this exemption is also set to tighten May 2, targeting duty-free entries from China and Hong Kong.
Retailers like Shein and Temu, which leverage the de minimis provision for affordable direct-to-consumer shipping, have already alerted customers to impending price hikes. The Trump administration defends the policy shift as critical to curbing synthetic opioid trafficking, alleging that illicit drugs often enter the U.S. through low-value parcels. “These measures address vulnerabilities in the synthetic opioid supply chain,” the White House stated, framing the crackdown as a national security imperative.
China rebuked the rationale, calling the opioid crisis a domestic U.S. issue and denouncing the tariffs as “bullying.” Officials highlighted China’s stringent anti-drug laws, among the world’s most rigorous, as evidence of their compliance with international norms. Meanwhile, Hongkong Post announced it will cease U.S.-bound sea shipments and suspend all parcel services to the country starting April 27, signaling widening ripple effects across global logistics networks.
The disruptions underscore growing friction between trade modernization and regulatory oversight as governments grapple with balancing economic interests and security. For small businesses and consumers reliant on cross-border e-commerce, the changes threaten higher costs and delivery uncertainties, testing the resilience of supply chains already strained by geopolitical tensions.
Analysts note that the de minimis rule, once a catalyst for global online retail growth, is now a flashpoint in the U.S.-China trade rivalry, with lasting implications for international commerce frameworks.
