DHL halts delivery of merchandise to the United States

Starting August 29, 2025, new customs regulations for importing packages into the United States will take effect. Here's a breakdown of the key changes and what they mean for you.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be the responsible authority that DHL will deal with to handle customs formalities for commercial package shipments to the USA. This move is aimed at more closely controlling shipments to prevent the misuse of private gift shipments for commercial goods.

The transport and import of postal items, carried out by national postal companies and having special agreements with customs authorities and the United States Postal Service (USPS), will remain unaffected. However, for goods from Germany or the European Union, the customs rate is expected to be 15% of the value of the goods, with some product groups potentially subject to higher duties. This also applies to private customer packages with a value of over $100.

Commercial customs clearance, such as that offered by DHL Express, remains available to customers, but the previous duty-free threshold ("De Minimis") no longer applies. This means that all shipments, with a few exceptions, will be subject to customs duties starting August 29, 2025.

DHL has announced that, effective August 22, 2025, it will no longer accept and transport international parcels and merchandise from business customers to the USA until further notice. The company is closely monitoring further developments and is in contact with the relevant US authorities together with its European partners.

Private individuals sending packages to private individuals with a value of up to $100, declared as "gift", are not affected by the new regulations. The shipping service provider notes that the shipment of goods via DHL Express and the commercial import of goods into the USA can still be carried out under the currently applicable customs duties.

The postal customs clearance process is usually simpler and cheaper than commercial customs clearance, and it is based on the Universal Postal Convention. DHL aims to resume postal goods shipping to the USA "as soon as possible".

The Executive Order "Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for all Countries" will come into effect by the end of next week. All commercially cleared shipments, including those with a value of under $100, are subject to customs duties. The key questions regarding how and by whom customs duties will be collected in the future, which additional data is required, and how data transmission to the American customs authority (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) will take place remain unanswered.

In conclusion, starting August 29, 2025, new customs regulations for importing packages into the USA will apply. It is crucial for businesses and individuals to be aware of these changes and plan accordingly to ensure a smooth transition. DHL encourages its customers to stay informed and to reach out with any questions or concerns.