Global logistics leader DHL has announced a temporary halt on shipments valued over $800 from businesses to individual customers in the United States, citing major delays in customs clearance caused by recent regulatory changes.
In a statement released over the weekend, DHL said it’s experiencing “multi-day transit delays” on parcels exceeding the $800 threshold, regardless of their country of origin. The company attributed the disruptions to new U.S. Customs regulations that went into effect April 5.
“As a result of recent U.S. Customs regulatory updates, we are experiencing multi-day transit delays to the U.S. from any origin for shipments with a declared customs value exceeding USD 800,” the company said.
The updated policy significantly lowers the threshold at which packages require formal customs processing from $2,500 to $800. This shift has triggered a surge in formal customs entries, overwhelming clearance operations across the board.
DHL emphasized that the pause applies only to business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments. Business-to-business (B2B) deliveries remain unaffected by the suspension, although they too could encounter delays due to the backlog.
Behind the scenes, the shift appears to reflect a broader effort by the U.S. government to tighten control over imports and curb its trade deficit. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has pursued aggressive trade policies, imposing tariffs on several countries and revising import rules.
Earlier this month, the administration also eliminated a longstanding duty-free exemption for low-value parcels arriving from China. The move, widely seen as a blow to fast-growing online platforms like Temu and Shein, increases the cost and complexity of shipping inexpensive goods directly to American consumers.
DHL has not specified how long the suspension will last but says it’s working “around the clock” to clear the backlog and restore normal transit times.
