If you’ve been shipping products from Europe to the US, you’re about to face an unexpected hurdle. DHL (XETRA: DHL.DE) has just pressed pause on its standard business parcel shipments to the United States. This abrupt move isn’t coming out of nowhere, DHL is simply the latest in a line of European parcel services to pull back, as new US customs regulations complicate what used to be a straightforward process for international sellers and shippers.
For years, the so-called de minimis exemption allowed overseas packages valued under $800 to head stateside without incurring a gauntlet of customs checks and fees. That’s changing as of August 29. In a bid to clamp down on what US officials cite as abuse of this loophole, especially by companies funneling huge volumes of low-value goods via e-commerce, the Trump administration has signed an executive order closing the door on that exemption. That means all business parcels, regardless of value, will soon face new duties, and a pile of bureaucracy.
DHL’s last day for accepting business parcels destined for the US is August 25. The company’s express premium shipping service, DHL Express, isn’t being affected, so if speed and compliance with higher customs standards are built into your shipping plan (and your budget), you still have an option. Private individuals can continue sending gifts worth up to $100 as standard parcels, but DHL and other services warn these will face more scrutiny to prevent abuse of the remaining loophole.
If you’re not alone in your confusion, you’re in good company. Postal operators from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, France, and beyond are making similar announcements. Many say they’ve received insufficient guidance from US authorities to implement the new rules efficiently, and don’t want to risk business parcels being returned, delayed, or hit with surprise costs. In fact, several postal services are rushing to process any remaining parcels before the new duties hit, and most are drawing a hard line on accepting shipments after their announced cutoff dates.
Behind these moves is a scramble among logistics and postal professionals to sort out fundamental questions: Who exactly will collect these new customs fees? What new data and paperwork will US Customs require? How will different shipping scenarios be handled, especially given massive e-commerce growth in recent years? Right now, answers remain elusive, and the prevailing industry view is that it’s safer to halt shipments than incur potential penalties or anger customers.
Despite the upheaval, DHL and its European peers say the suspension is likely temporary. All are eyeing a speedy return once US customs authorities clarify the new ruleset and a reliable system for processing incoming parcels is established. But for now, US-bound business shippers are forced to pivot: either use a premium express service or pause shipments altogether until the dust settles.
For affected companies, this is more than a minor nuisance. E-commerce businesses in Europe count on smooth transatlantic shipping for sales and customer trust, particularly small and mid-sized sellers who don’t have giant logistics operations in the US. There’s concern that increased paperwork and unpredictable fees will add friction and cost, making it harder to compete in America’s lucrative retail market. And with unclear timelines on when normal service will resume, some sellers may have to temporarily shift resources away from their US operations or consider new fulfillment models until lighter regulations, or more streamlined processes, are adopted.
Industry experts say this moment spotlights just how interdependent global commerce has become, and just how fast those connections can lapse in the face of regulatory change. For now, the only certainty for international businesses is uncertainty.
