DHL Express has announced a significant suspension of its delivery services to the United States, specifically targeting packages valued over $800 (603). This decision comes in light of the new tariff regulations implemented by the Trump administration, which have resulted in increased scrutiny and paperwork at customs. Previously, items worth up to $2,500 could enter the US with minimal bureaucratic hurdles, but recent changes have drastically lowered this threshold, leading to complications for international shipping.

The global logistics giant stated that they would halt shipments from businesses worldwide to US consumers starting Monday, and this suspension will remain in place until further notice. While business-to-business deliveries are still permitted, these too may experience significant delays as DHL grapples with the new customs requirements. The company has described the situation as a 'significant increase' in red tape and has been working tirelessly around the clock to manage the surge in formal customs clearances.

Despite this setback, DHL will continue to process packages valued at less than $800, which can still be sent to the US with minimal checks. However, this relief may be short-lived; the White House is expected to tighten regulations further on May 2, when it will close a loophole that allows low-value packagesparticularly those shipped from China and Hong Kongto enter the US without incurring any duties. This impending change is poised to affect various businesses, notably fast-fashion retailer Shein and the budget-friendly platform Temu, both of which have expressed concerns about potential price increases as a result of these new trade rules.

The Trump administration has justified these measures by claiming that many shipments from China have been used to conceal illicit substances through deceptive shipping practices. In an effort to address the opioid crisis in the US, the White House has issued an executive order aiming to disrupt the synthetic opioid supply chain, which it attributes to foreign shipments. Beijing has countered these claims, asserting that the opioid epidemic is fundamentally a US issue and emphasizing that China enforces some of the strictest drug policies in the world.

In a related development, Hongkong Post announced that it would cease accepting packages destined for the US by sea, effective April 27. The postal service criticized the US government's actions, labeling them as unreasonable and indicative of bullying tactics in international trade.