The Daily Populous Monday April 21st, 2025 morning edition
Authored by bbc.com and submitted by ShamAsil

DHL suspends high value US deliveries over tariffs

Previously, packages worth up to $2,500 could enter the US with minimal paperwork but due to tighter customs checks that came into force alongside Trump's tariffs earlier this month, the threshold has been lowered.

It added that business-to-business shipments will still go ahead, "though they may also face delays".

The delivery giant said it will temporarily stop shipments from companies in all countries to American consumers on Monday "until further notice".

DHL Express is suspending deliveries to the US worth more than $800 (£603) because of a "significant increase" in red tape at customs following the introduction of Donald Trump's new tariff regime.

DHL said that the change "has caused a surge in formal customs clearances, which we are handling around the clock".

It said that while it is working to "scale up and manage this increase, shipments worth over $800, regardless of origin, may experience multi-day delays".

The company said it will still deliver packages worth less than $800, which can be sent to the US with minimal checks.

But the White House is set to clamp down on deliveries under $800 - specifically those sent from China and Hong Kong - on 2 May when it closes a loophole allowing low-value packages to enter the US without incurring any duties.

The removal of the so-called "de minimis" rule will impact the likes of the fast-fashion firm Shein and Temu, the low-cost retail giant.

Shein and Temu have both warned that they will increase prices "due to recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs".

The Trump administration has claimed that "many shippers" in China "hide illicit substances and conceal the true contents of shipments sent to the US through deceptive shipping practices".

Under an excutive order, the White House said the measures were aimed at "addressing the synthetic opioid supply chain" which it said "play a significant role in the synthetic opioid crisis in the US".

Beijing has said that the opioid fentanyl is a "US problem" and China has the strictest drug policies in the world.

Last week, Hongkong Post said it was suspending packages sent to the US by sea and, from 27 April, would stop accepting parcels destined for America.

It said: "The US is unreasonable, bullying and imposing tariffs abusively."

MontasJinx on April 20th, 2025 at 22:40 UTC »

I used to work for DHL. They were one of the 1st companies into Iraq after the 2nd Gulf War. They go ANYWHERE. If they are pulling back from the US market, then there really is no hope. I guess a collapsing US economy is what the majority of American voters asked for. Are ya winning yet?

circuitislife on April 20th, 2025 at 22:01 UTC »

Wow. Who would have thought announcing tariff out if nowhere with no grace period would result in a catastrophic failure for logistics?

ShamAsil on April 20th, 2025 at 21:55 UTC »

DHL is one of the titans of world logistics. Even if no other company follows suit, the suspension of high value B2C shipments across the US border will have huge implications for both US consumers and global businesses. Businesses that get a significant amount of income from the American market, in particular luxury brands, will likely see a significant hit to their revenues, and smaller companies may just chose to stop sales to USA.