DHL, one of Europe’s biggest shipping companies, recently announced it will stop accepting parcels sent from businesses to the U.S. This change comes as the Trump administration ends the “de minimis” tariff exemption, which previously allowed shipments worth less than $800 to enter the U.S. without any customs duties.
This new rule is part of a broader effort to combat the flow of illicit drugs, particularly fentanyl, entering the country. The White House cited a surge in shipments under this exemption, jumping from 134 million to 1.34 billion between 2015 and 2024, as a reason for the change.
As of August 29, shipments from several European countries, including Denmark, Italy, and France, have been paused. Even postal services in places like Australia and parts of Asia, such as Singapore and Thailand, are holding back until the rules become clearer.
DHL believes these restrictions are necessary due to new U.S. customs requirements. They stated that many questions remain about how customs duties will be collected and what additional data will be needed.
In historical context, the end of the de minimis exemption marks a significant shift in how international trade operates, reminiscent of past trade tensions. The 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act raised customs duties dramatically, which led to widespread international retaliation and is often blamed for worsening the Great Depression.
Consumer reactions are mixed. Some support tighter controls for safety, while others worry it could complicate purchases from overseas, particularly with popular online retailers that rely on shipping low-cost items directly to American consumers.
For more detailed statistics on the rise of de minimis shipments, you can check out this Financial Times report.
