DHL Suspends Business-to-Consumer Shipments Valued at $800 or More to US Recipients as ‘Temporary Measure’

DHL Express, a division of Germany’s Deutsche Post, has announced the suspension of imported business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments to private U.S. individuals concerning packages valued at $800 or greater.

According to an update shared on the official DHL website, the change comes about as part of a massive increase in the number of formal customs clearances being necessary due to new regulations.

“Effective April 5, 2025, all shipments to the U.S. with a declared customs value over USD 800 require formal entry processing — down from the previous USD 2,500 threshold due to new U.S. Customs regulations,” the announcement began.

“This change has caused a surge in formal customs clearances, which we are handling around the clock. While we are working diligently to scale up and manage this increase, shipments over USD 800 — regardless of origin — may experience multi-day delays,” it continued.

DHL would go on to state that from April 21 onward, it would be suspending shipments to private individuals in America with a value of over $800. The company further outlined that this policy would be a “temporary measure,” and that business-to-business (B2B) shipments with a declared value of over $800 were not affected, although these shipments could face delays.

De Minimis Exemption Ends and Chinese Tariffs Set for 145% as of May 2

DHL’s move comes in advance of major changes to trade policy concerning Chinese imports stateside as of May 2.

As a result of President Donald Trump’s continued tit-for-tat ongoing trade policy disputes with China, the de minimis loophole — which allows foreign shipments to be imported to U.S. businesses and individuals duty-free and tax-free, provided a value of under $800 — will be closed, and tariffs on Chinese imports will hold at 145%, per The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The change in the de minimis policy will likely complicate matters for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, and it remains unclear exactly what effect the substantial tariff hike on Chinese imports will have regarding the volume and handling of related shipments.