DHL Express has announced a temporary halt on deliveries to the United States for packages valued over $800 (£603). This decision comes in response to a “significant increase” in customs regulations attributed to the new tariff regime implemented by former President Donald Trump.
Starting Monday, the delivery giant will cease shipments from various countries to consumers in the U.S. “until further notice.” However, shipments between businesses will continue, albeit with the likelihood of delays.
Earlier, packages worth up to $2,500 could enter the U.S. with minimal documentation, but recent customs enforcement changes have lowered this threshold significantly.
DHL stated that this shift has resulted in an influx of formal customs clearances, which they are addressing around the clock. While they are making efforts to manage this surge, shipments exceeding $800 may experience multi-day delays, regardless of their origin.
Nonetheless, packages valued at less than $800 will still be delivered with limited checks. Importantly, on May 2, the White House plans to tighten regulations on low-value packages, particularly those sent from China and Hong Kong, by closing a loophole that previously allowed these items to enter the U.S. duty-free.
This change will particularly affect companies such as Shein and Temu, which have already indicated that prices might rise due to the evolving trade landscape.
The Trump administration claims that many Chinese shippers obscure the true nature of their shipments, complicating customs processes.
In response to these developments, Hongkong Post recently announced it would stop accepting packages bound for the U.S. by sea, labeling the U.S. approach as “unreasonable.”
Vocabulary List:
- Customs /ˈkʌstəmz/ (noun): Government authorities responsible for regulating goods entering a country.
- Shipment /ˈʃɪpmənt/ (noun): The act of sending goods from one place to another.
- Regulations /ˌrɛɡjuˈleɪʃənz/ (noun): Rules or laws designed to control or govern conduct.
- Enforcement /ɪnˈfɔːrsmənt/ (noun): The act of compelling observance of or compliance with a law rule or obligation.
- Influx /ˈɪnflʌks/ (noun): An arrival or inward flow of a large number of people or things.
- Loophole /ˈluːphoʊl/ (noun): An ambiguity or inadequacy in the law or a set of rules that allows someone to evade a burden.
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