Courier firm DHL to suspend global shipments of more than $800 to US due to new customs rules

DHL, the international courier firm, will temporarily pause shipments to the U.S. for items with a declared value of more than $800, the company announced in a notice.

The announcement said that, starting Monday, the company will stop collecting and shipping orders from businesses abroad to private individual customers in the U.S. if the declared custom value exceeds $800.

The suspension is temporary and will be in place “until further notice,” the notice said.

The announcement follows a change in U.S. customs regulations governing which items need to be formally declared upon entering the country. An updated policy, effective April 5, lowered the threshold from $2,500 to $800 for shipments to require formal declaration.

DHL said this has led to “multi-day transit delays,” compelling the company to suspend service temporarily.

“This change has caused a surge in formal customs clearances, which we are handling around the clock,” the notice said.

DHL said the suspension only affects business-to-consumer shipments and that business-to-business shipments will not be affected by the suspension, but “they may also face delays.”

“While we are working diligently to scale up and manage this increase, shipments over USD 800 — regardless of origin — may experience multi-day delays,” the company said.

All shipments worth less than $800 will not be affected by the suspension, the company said.

The company notice was not dated, but the internet archives indicate the page was first saved on Sunday. Reuters reported that the page’s metadata reveal that it was compiled on Saturday. 

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