Investing.com - Deutsche Post has said that it will halt shipments of high-value products to the United States as it grapples with delays to customs clearances stemming from recent changes to U.S. rules.
From Monday, the company, which is known as DHL, said it will temporarily suspend the collection and shipment of items from businesses to private individuals in the U.S. "where the declared customs value exceeds $800."
In a notice that Reuters said was compiled on Saturday, DHL said that business-to-business shipments to U.S. firms with a declarable value above $800 are not impacted by the suspension, "although they may also face delays."
Since April 5, all shipments to the U.S. that were valued at over $800 have required formal entry processing, down from the prior level of $2,500, DHL said.
This update to U.S. customs regulations has sparked "multi-day transit delays to the U.S. from any origin" for shipments with a declared value greater than $800, it added.
The change "has caused a surge in formal customs clearances, which we are handling around the clock," DHL flagged, noting that it will share updates "as the situation evolves."
Last week, Hongkong Post said that it had halted mail services for goods sent by sea to the U.S., hitting out at Washington for perceived "bullying" after the White House cancelled tariff-free provisions for items shipped from Hong Kong and China.
Hong Kong’s postal service said on Wednesday that it will "definitely not collect any so-called tariffs on behalf of the U.S. and will suspend the acceptance of postal items containing goods destined to the U.S."
(Reuters contributed reporting.)