DHL joins peers in restricting US-bound parcel services

German postal services group DHL said on Friday it would suspend the shipment of standard parcels for businesses to the United States, in line with similar moves by European peers deterred by looming U.S. customs duties for low-value packages.

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration said last month it would suspend the global "de minimis" exemption, which also allows minimal paperwork, for international shipments under $800, effective August 29.

Earlier this week, postal groups in Scandinavia, Austria and Belgium said they would pause parcel shipments to the United States.

"The reason for these likely temporary restrictions is new processes required by U.S. authorities for postal shipping," DHL said.

August 25 would be the last day it takes consignments, but premium delivery service DHL Express would not be affected by the suspension, the company added.

It said private customers could continue to send gifts worth less than $100 to the United States as a standard parcel but these shipments would be subject to even stricter controls to prevent misuse.