DHL, an integrated logistics company, will temporarily halt e-commerce shipments to individuals in the United States with a declared customs value exceeding $800. This decision stems from the overwhelming workload faced by import specialists due to a sudden change in U.S. customs rules.
On April 5, in response to President Donald Trump’s order for reciprocal tariffs under emergency authority, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) implemented a formal entry process for all shipments valued above $800. Previously, shipments between $800 and $2,500 could be cleared using a simplified and expedited entry process.
While the reciprocal tariffs on trading partners have been temporarily suspended, the change to informal entry rules remains in effect. Consequently, DHL is experiencing multiday shipping delays for U.S. imports exceeding $800. The company has decided to suspend accepting business-to-consumer shipments in this range until it can expand its customs brokerage operations to manage the surge in volume.
In a notice to customers, DHL explained that the sudden change has significantly increased the workload for filing formal customs entries, leading to the suspension of business-to-consumer shipments above $800. However, B2B shipments above $800 and both B2C and B2B shipments below $800 in value are not affected by this suspension.
DHL Express is working diligently to scale up clearance capacity and has implemented the shipment pause to maintain its high-quality service commitment to customers.
An informal entry is a streamlined customs clearance process for shipments valued less than $2,500. Unlike formal entries, informal entries require fewer documents, typically just a commercial invoice and airway bill, and don’t necessitate a customs bond. This makes them a preferred choice for many e-commerce retailers, as per trade compliance experts.
However, shipments previously eligible for informal entry are now subject to customs duties based on the United States’ Harmonized Tariff Schedule. These duties may include baseline duties, tariffs against countries for unfair trade practices, and new emergency tariffs. Supporting documentation that may now be required includes proof of the goods’ country of origin and the recipient’s tax identification number (Social Security number or employer ID number).
Starting May 2, the U.S. is set to eliminate the duty-free exemption for low-value shipments (under $800) from China and Hong Kong. This change will affect e-commerce businesses and logistics providers, potentially squeezing them further. Retailers can still send one de minimis shipment per day per individual, but they must adhere to limited document requirements under U.S. law. The majority of de minimis shipments originate from China.
The Trump administration is ending this benefit on the grounds that informal entries facilitate the smuggling of fentanyl from China to the U.S. and create an unfair advantage for Chinese sellers over American ones. Consequently, individual shipments will now require a formal customs entry or be bundled into bulk shipments.
Interestingly, the amount of duties collected for small-dollar shipments could be limited due to the average shipment value being $54, as reported by CBP.
