After a four-week suspension that disrupted countless international shipments, DHL's German postal unit has become one of the first global operators to resume parcel deliveries to the United States, implementing a new customs pre-payment system that adds complexity and cost to cross-border e-commerce.
On September 25, 2025, DHL's Post & Parcel Germany division will resume postal goods shipping to the United States for business customers, ending a four-week suspension triggered by abrupt changes to U.S. customs regulations . The service restoration comes after Germany's largest postal and parcel service provider completely overhauled its data collection, customs reporting, and fee payment processes to comply with the new U.S. requirements .
The resumption affects DHL Parcel International shipments for business customers, while DHL Express services continued operating normally throughout the suspension period . The development signals a potential path forward for other postal operators still struggling to adapt to the new U.S. customs landscape that has disrupted global e-commerce since the changes took effect on August 29 .
Why Services Were Suspended
The suspension stemmed from a Trump administration executive order titled "Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for all Countries," which effectively abolished the long-standing "de minimis" rule that had allowed duty-free imports of commercial goods valued up to $800 .
This regulatory shift created immediate challenges for postal operators worldwide. The U.S. Postal Service lacked the ability to process entries through U.S. Customs and Border Protection's automated system, and postal operators initially couldn't establish links with CBP-approved qualified service providers . With "core problems and processes undefined" regarding tariff collection mechanisms and necessary declaration information, many operators had no choice but to suspend services .
The impact was dramatic. According to the Universal Postal Union in Bern, international postal traffic to the U.S. dropped 81% after the new rules took effect , with some reports indicating declines exceeding 80% . Nearly 90 postal operators suspended some or all postal shipments to the United States .
The New Shipping Reality for Businesses
Under the resumed service framework, business customers face a fundamentally changed shipping process with three key requirements:
- All commercial shipments now subject to duties: Unlike before, goods valued up to and including $800 have been subject to customs duties since August 29. The duty-free threshold of $100 applies only to private gifts-not to commercial shippers .
- Mandatory PDDP service: Businesses must book the 'Postal Delivered Duty Paid' (PDDP) service, where the sender covers all import duties for their recipient customers in advance .
- Enhanced data requirements: Shippers must provide complete and accurate customs data, particularly the customs tariff number and country of origin for each individual item .
The price for the PDDP service to the USA is €2 per shipment. Additionally, fees from the service provider and the customs duties themselves will be passed on to business customers without any markup . DHL emphasizes that while actual parcel prices to the USA remain stable, business customers will incur additional costs for customs clearance and duties on all shipments .
For example, shipments from EU countries now face at least 15% duties under recent trade agreements . The "ad valorem" method will be used for calculating these customs duties .
Exceptions and Special Cases
The new shipping process does not apply to private customers in the same way. Packages from individuals to individuals with a goods value up to $100, declared as "gift," are not affected by the new regulations in the USA . However, DHL has warned that "these shipments will be monitored even more closely than before to prevent the misuse of private gift shipments for shipping commercial goods" .
There are also no changes for shipping documents in letters. Shipping goods via DHL Express and the commercial import of goods into the USA under the currently applicable customs rates remains possible .
Global Context and Responses
DHL isn't alone in navigating these changes. Australia Post resumed postal deliveries to the United States on September 22, working with Zonos, a CBP-authorized third-party provider . Other authorized customs brokers for postal shipments include Flexport and DHL eCommerce .
The suspension affected particularly smaller businesses, such as fashion brands and Etsy sellers, who rely on national postal operators rather than commercial channels for cross-border shipments . European postal operators had expressed concern about "unresolved questions" regarding the new U.S. requirements , with many implementing temporary suspensions until they could establish compliant systems.
Strategic Implications for E-commerce Businesses
The resumption of service comes with increased complexity and costs for businesses shipping from Germany to the United States. Companies must now factor in additional customs clearance procedures, duty payments, and enhanced documentation requirements into their shipping workflows.
The key to navigating this new landscape lies in adapting quickly. Businesses should:
- Update cost calculations to include customs duties and PDDP service fees
- Implement systems for collecting accurate product-specific customs data
- Evaluate shipping options between postal and express services based on new cost structures
- Communicate changes clearly to customers who may experience longer delivery times or higher costs
Looking Ahead
The return of postal services between Germany and the United States represents a significant step toward normalizing cross-border e-commerce disrupted by the customs changes. However, the new processes underscore a permanent shift in how low-value commercial shipments enter the United States.
As DHL stated, "The additional costs incurred by business customers for postal shipping to the USA will be based solely on external factors for which DHL is not responsible and over which it has no control" . This acknowledgment highlights that these changes are structural rather than temporary, requiring businesses to adapt their long-term cross-border shipping strategies.
The resumption of service by a major operator like DHL may provide a template for other postal services still suspended. However, the global postal network continues to face challenges in adapting to requirements that differ significantly from traditional postal customs processing .
For businesses, the key takeaway is that cross-border e-commerce remains viable but operates under a new set of rules that prioritize customs compliance and transparency. Those who adapt quickly to these requirements will maintain their competitive advantage in international markets, while those slow to respond may face disruptions and increased costs.
As the global logistics industry continues to adjust to the post-de minimis landscape, further developments are expected in how carriers, customs brokers, and e-commerce platforms collaborate to streamline cross-border trade while meeting enhanced regulatory requirements.
