Parcel courier DHL has put a temporary stop on large consignments to the United States amid new trade regulation challenges.
Starting from April 21, the company will pause all shipments exceeding $800 (£603) in value, as reported by .
The US Customs and Border Protection's introduction of tighter controls on goods valued over $800 from April 5 has led to more rigorous customs inspections and the need for extra documentation.
DHL, which handles 1.5 billion parcels annually, has reported that these "substantial" regulatory changes have significantly disrupted its delivery operations, causing extensive delays for US-bound packages from across the globe.
"This change has caused a surge in formal customs clearances, which we are handling around the clock," the firm announced.
In a bid to uphold its service quality, DHL Express stated: "To maintain the high-quality service commitment of DHL Express to its customers, starting Monday, April 21 2025, and until further notice, DHL Express will temporarily suspend [business-to-consumer] shipments to private individuals in the US whose declared value exceeds $800."
John Manners Bell, Chief Executive of consultancy TI Insight, suggested to the Financial Times that DHL's move might indicate "the global trading system is starting to break."
As a first among leading logistics entities, the German-based DHL has ceased shipping following the alterations in the US tariff regime.
"This could become a major trend as postal offices and commercial carriers struggle to cope with the weight of tariffs and bureaucratic burdens placed on them," Manners Bell remarked.
He highlighted the broader impact, stating: "The changes will have real implications for the international ecommerce industry, affecting many millions of parcels that flow every day to US importers, inevitably raising costs for US consumers."
