DHL has made a drastic decision. Starting this April, it has stopped shipping packages valued at more than 800 dollars. The reason? We know you can imagine it… The new tariff regime promoted by President Donald Trump, with which customs will become much stricter to stop imports, especially those coming from China. Although the measure only affects the more expensive packages (for now), it’s already being noticed: thousands of shipments blocked, brands raising prices, and international logistics starting to suffer… And this is just the beginning, because if the model continues, it will change the way millions of people shop online. Are we ready for this?
If your package is worth more than 800 dollars, forget it (for now)
The new rule forces all shipments over 800 dollars to go through customs inspection. Until now, that threshold allowed many consumers (especially those buying from China) to avoid taxes. With the change, DHL has preferred to pause shipments directly rather than face an operational collapse due to the accumulation of held packages.
Is the measure permanent?
No. But no one knows how long it will last. What’s clear is that if you make a purchase over 800 dollars and it’s not between businesses, it will most likely get stuck in customs limbo…
Which shipments are still working and which are not
The shipping company has clarified that business-to-business shipments, even if they exceed the limit, will continue. But anything from a company to a customer or between individuals that exceeds 800 dollars is blocked until further notice. So, many sellers are already recommending splitting big purchases into smaller packages to avoid customs problems.
Shein and Temu in danger
Brands like Shein or Temu, which have grown precisely thanks to cheap purchases that avoided taxes, have already started making moves. Even packages under 800 dollars could be investigated if there’s suspicion of irregular shipping practices.
Why is Trump tightening these rules?
The philosophy behind this move is simple: Trump wants to protect the national industry from foreign industries. The president has long been saying that many foreign products enter the country “through the back door”, taking advantage of legal loopholes, and causing national companies to be overwhelmed by not being able to compete with the very low prices these platforms offer.
With this measure, the former president reinforces his campaign message: less dependence on foreign countries, more national production. The problem is that, in practice, it also makes life harder for logistics companies and individual buyers who aren’t to blame for anything.
We will have to start getting used to these changes and, above all, start shopping more consciously, and if possible, at local businesses to follow the president’s advice. But if you want to order like before, you’ll have to spend a bit more than you used to. Goodbye to $40 purchases with 100 products in the cart.
