MILLIONS of packages from DHL are getting suspended, but there could be a way for some to get around it.
The delivery delays come amid new legislation that goes into full effect starting August 29.
DHL is pausing shipping processes for select packages this month (stock image)[/caption]
United States Customs regulations have changed under President Donald Trump’s executive order known as the Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for all Countries.
As a result, Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany are temporarily suspending select packages.
“Due to the new customs regulations under the Executive Order ‘Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for all Countries,’ which will take effect on August 29, 2025, there will be temporary restrictions on postal goods shipping to the US for private and business customers in Germany,” a press release noted.
“After August 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 US.”
DHL noted the reasoning behind the move came from the “new processes required by US authorities for postal shipping, which differ from previously applicable regulations.”
The global logistics and international shipping company also emphasized that “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 US Customers and Border Protection will be carried out.”
Except, there are two ways that German residents can still send packages through DHL and get around the law.
The first is through DHL Express, as the goods still fall under applicable customs rates.
Rates also apply for private customer packages valued at more than $100.
Another loophole comes if the package or parcel is a gift from an individual to another individual with a value no more than $100.
So long as they are declared a “gift” and contain appropriate documents, they’ll be sent as usual to the United States.
Even so, DHL noted in the release that the gifts would be “subject to even stricter controls than before to prevent the misuse of private gift shipments for sending commercial goods.”
Basically, don’t try to sneak commercial goods as a gift to another individual, because US Customs and Border Protection or DHL will catch it.
It’s important to note, again, that until August 29, shipments from the European Union with a low value of under $800 can still be imported to the United States without customs duties.
What items will be affected by the tariffs?
AMERICANS should prepare to see significant prices changes on everything from avocados to cars under President Donald Trump’s new global tariffs.
Here is a list of some of the everyday products that could see a massive price tag surge.
- Coffee
- Tea
- Bananas
- Foreign-made cars
- Sneakers
- Furniture and other home goods
- Pharmaceuticals
- Video games
- Clothing
- Toys
- Washers and dryers
- Avocados
- Housing materials
PAY IT
As a result of the new law signed on July 30 by President Trump, Americans will also pay more from orders they get from abroad.
It not only affects DHL but also FedEx, UPS, and other private carriers, with shipments subject to all applicable taxes based on the product’s Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code and what the country of origin was.
For example, a package from the EU would get a 15% tax based on the current tariff rates, and for Brazil it’s an extra 50%.
If a carrier is unable to calculate the specific tariff, there’ll be a flat fee of $80 per package that will apply regardless of the value of the shipment itself.
Some packages through international postal networks like the China Post to the United States Postal Service (USPS) will have a different tariff structure to follow.
LENGTHY HISTORY
The de minimis exemption has been around since 1938 as a way for the United States to avoid administrative costs that come with taxing low-value imports.
It was initially set for goods at $1 or less, but this rose along with inflation to $5 in 1978, $200 in 1993, and finally $800 by 2016.
With the elimination of the exemption, some experts believe that a loophole in US trade policy has been closed.
Over 1.36 billion shipments come into the US annually from foreign countries.
Fast fashion e-commerce brands like Shein and Temu that have operations based out of China already warned customers of price increases months ago.
Cheap eBay buys are also expected to be about $200 more expensive as a result of the legislation.
