DHL Express has suspended certain international shipments to the United States as new U.S. customs regulations take effect. The change, announced just days before implementation, applies to packages valued over $800 and marks a significant shift in how cross-border e-commerce is processed and regulated.The pause, which went into effect on April 21, targets all business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments where the declared customs value exceeds $800. Previously, only shipments exceeding $2,500 required formal customs entry. The change comes in response to customs rules which came into effect on April 5, lowering this threshold and requiring more packages to go through complex import procedures and customs scrutiny.DHL attributed the temporary suspension to the increased workload these rule changes created."We are experiencing multi-day transit delays to the U.S. from any origin for shipments with a declared customs value exceeding USD 800," the company said in an official update."Effective Monday, April 21st, 2025, and until further notice, we will temporarily suspend the collection and shipping of business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments to private individuals in the United States where the declared customs value exceeds USD 800."Which DHL Shipments Have Been Suspended?According to DHL, the suspension exclusively affects B2C shipments where the declared value exceeds the $800 mark. Shipments under this amount will continue as normal."Shipments – both B2B and B2C – with a declarable customs value below USD 800 are not affected by the suspension," the company said in its statement.Importantly, business-to-business (B2B) shipments to U.S. companies with a declared value above $800 are not included in the suspension, though they may face delays. As DHL noted: "Business-to-business (B2B) shipments to U.S. companies with a declarable value above USD 800 are not affected by the temporary suspension, though they may also face delays."The regulatory change stems from an April 5 revision in U.S. customs rules which now require formal entry processing for all goods exceeding $800. The previous threshold was $2,500. This change was highlighted in coverage by CNN, which noted: "DHL blamed the halt on new US customs rules which require formal entry processing on all shipments worth over $800. The minimum had been $2,500 until a change on April 5."DHL confirmed to Reuters that the updated customs threshold has led to "a surge in formal customs clearances," prompting the company to temporarily halt B2C deliveries to manage capacity."We are handling [them] around the clock," the spokesperson said.How Long Will These Shipments Be Suspended For?DHL has not specified when shipments will resume. The suspension is open-ended and described as temporary."This is a temporary measure, and we will share updates as the situation evolves," DHL said in its announcement.The company's statement to Reuters emphasized its efforts to scale up processing operations in response to the influx of formally-cleared shipments. DHL stated that it is "working diligently to scale up and manage this increase."What's Next?Industry observers view this move as part of a broader shift linked to the legacy of U.S. trade policy under former President Donald Trump. The regulatory changes have had ripple effects on other logistics providers in Asia as well.DHL said it would continue processing shipments from Hong Kong to the United States "in accordance with the applicable customs rules and regulations" and would "work with our customers to help them understand and adapt to the changes that are planned for May 2," as reported by CNN.The shipping freeze came shortly after Hongkong Post suspended mail services for goods sent by sea to the United States, criticizing Washington's decision to end tariff-free treatment for packages from China and Hong Kong. The postal service accused the U.S. of "bullying" in response to the new trade conditions.DHL has stated it will provide further updates as the situation evolves. Until then, customers seeking to send higher-value packages to the United States may need to explore alternate carriers or wait for the temporary suspension to be lifted.