Fearing customs chaos, DHL decides to halt US shipments

International courier DHL on Friday joined other European mail carriers that have put temporary restrictions on sending packages to the United States because of President Donald Trump's executive order that eliminates an exemption on duties on cheap imported goods.

- CHRISTOPHER F. SCHUETZE

The temporary halt by DHL's German parcel service and its domestic mail service, Deutsche Post, covers commercial shipments originating in Germany to consumers in the United States. The company will continue to send private packages as long as the content is worth no more than $100 and labelled a gift. More valuable items can be sent through DHL Express, a more expensive option that includes commercial customs services.

"The suspension was implemented because there is simply so much uncertainty and companies are afraid that we will incur very high followup costs," said Sebastian Kummer, the head of the Institute for Transport and Logistics Management at Vienna University of Economics and Business. Such costs could include storage or return shipments if US Customs does not accept the packages.