German-based global parcel service DHL Group announced on Aug. 22 that it would temporarily suspend the delivery of business customer parcels to the United States due to the new customs regulations under President Donald Trump’s de minimis executive order set to come into effect on Aug. 29.
“After Aug. 22, Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany will no longer be able to accept and transport parcels and postal items containing goods from business customers destined for the U.S.,” DHL stated.
The courier company expressed uncertainty over the new procedures and related costs required by U.S. authorities to process the packages under Trump’s July 30 executive order, “Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment For All Countries.”
According to the order, all imported goods sent through means other than the international postal network that are valued at or under $800 will be subject to customs duties.
DHL said, “Key questions remain unresolved, particularly regarding how and by whom customs duties will be collected in the future, what additional data will be required, and how the data transmission to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be carried out.”
DHL is joined by other European parcel companies in the suspension.
Meanwhile, PostEurop, a trade association representing Europe’s public postal operators, issued a statement on Aug. 19 saying that its member organizations—which span most of the continent’s major postal companies—will have to temporarily restrict or suspend the shipping of goods via the postal networks to the United States.
The association said that critical details regarding the collection of customs duties and related data, and the interaction with U.S. customs have not been “clearly defined,” with only a few technical details released on Aug. 15, leaving an extremely short timeframe to prepare.
The statement linked to several European postal companies announcing their suspension of services. The list included companies from Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Norway, Austria, Sweden, and France.
UK’s Royal Mail said in an update that it was working toward meeting the new requirements, indicating that export to the United States will continue with some changes.
“Royal Mail will have a new USA PDDP service,” the company said, referring to postal delivery duties paid, with additional handling charges, starting on Aug. 29.
Trump’s Order and Courier Exemptions
The de minimis policy was ruled out by the Trump administration for reasons that include alleged trade abuse by manufacturing powerhouses such as China.
China exploited the exemption for smaller packages to flood the U.S. market with cheap goods that adversely impacted American businesses, U.S. officials said. The policy allowed online shopping apps such as Shein and Temu to become global e-commerce behemoths.
They specialized in exporting low-priced goods, which were allowed to enter the United States without being subject to duties and taxes if each package was valued at less than $800.
Trump’s July 30 executive order expanded upon the earlier order, which originally focused on only China and Hong Kong, to impose a suspension of the duty-free policy for cheap imports from all over the world.
This has led to the current scenario where European parcel services are suspending goods delivery to the United States.
DHL has created some exemptions to the recent suspension. As stated in the Executive Order, packages and parcels declared as “gifts” from individuals to individuals with a value of up to $100 will continue to be transported.
However, these shipments will be subject to stricter controls than before to prevent the misuse of private gift shipments for sending commercial goods, the company said. Similarly, shipping of documents in letters will continue as before.
“Additionally, goods shipping via DHL Express and the commercial import of goods into the U.S. under the currently applicable customs rates will still be possible. These rates also apply to private customer packages with a value over $100,” DHL stated.
DHL had previously suspended services to the United States in April owing to customs regulatory changes.
Major e-commerce companies are also announcing disruptions in goods delivery due to rule changes.
“Effective Aug. 25, Etsy will be suspending shipping label purchases on Etsy for Australia Post, Canada Post, Evri and Royal Mail for US-bound packages,” the global online marketplace stated in an undated post.
Etsy advised its users to utilize third-party shipping partners or carriers offering duty-paid delivery options.
The Epoch Times reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.
