DHL resumed the delivery of B2C high value goods into the US yesterday (April 28) after the American government lifted its value threshold to $2,500, enabling shipments below this amount to once again be cleared via an expedited informal customs entry process.
The express company had introduced its temporary suspension of B2C shipments with a customs value exceeding $800 on April 21 due to shipping delays resulting from changes in US trade regulations.
The legal changes were introduced on April 5, requiring all shipments to the US with a declared customs value over $800 to undergo formal entry processing – down from the previous $2,500 threshold.
Transit delays
DHL noted that the changes led to significant transit delays, due to the additional formal clearance and processing requirements. On April 21, DHL Express US told customers: “This change has caused a surge in formal customs clearances, which we are handling around the clock. While we are working diligently to scale up and manage this increase, shipments over $800, regardless of origin, may experience multi-day delays.”
DHL implemented the temporary suspension to ensure it could maintain its “high service quality commitment” for its customers, the firm noted. B2C shipments with declarable customs value below $800 and B2B shipments were not affected by the suspension.
Constructive dialogue
