Global logistics giant DHL has announced a temporary suspension of shipments valued over $800 from businesses to individual consumers in the United States, effective Monday, April 21, 2025. The move comes in response to significant delays caused by recent changes in US Customs regulations.
Customs Threshold Lowered, Causing Processing Bottlenecks
The US government recently lowered the customs value threshold requiring formal entry processing from $2,500 to $800, a policy change that took effect on April 5. This adjustment has led to a surge in parcels needing detailed customs clearance, overwhelming processing capacity and resulting in multi-day transit delays for affected shipments.
DHL stated, “As a result of recent US Customs regulatory updates, we are experiencing multi-day transit delays to the US from any origin for shipments with a declared customs value exceeding USD 800.” The company emphasized that this suspension applies only to business-to-consumer shipments, while business-to-business deliveries will continue, albeit with potential delays.
Impact of US Trade Policies and Tariffs
The stricter customs enforcement is part of a broader US trade policy shift under the previous administration, aiming to address trade imbalances through tariffs and regulatory changes. Notably, the US recently ended a duty-free exemption for small parcels from China, targeting low-cost online retailers such as Temu and Shein.
These measures have intensified scrutiny on imports and complicated the logistics landscape for global shipping companies, forcing DHL to adjust its operations to maintain service reliability.
What This Means for Consumers and Businesses
Consumers in the US ordering goods valued over $800 from international sellers may face delays or temporary suspension of deliveries via DHL. Businesses shipping to US consumers will need to consider alternative logistics solutions or prepare for extended delivery times.
DHL has committed to closely monitoring the situation and working with US Customs to resume normal operations as soon as possible.
