DHL Secures Postal Import Processing Authority
US Customs and Border Protection has approved DHL's eCommerce and Global Forwarding divisions as qualified postal import parties, giving the logistics giant authority to collect and remit customs duties on international mail shipments. The designation puts DHL among dozens of carriers now authorized to handle this specialized clearance function.
The approval matters because it allows DHL to process customs charges for packages entering the US through postal channels—a significant volume driver as cross-border ecommerce continues growing. Rather than having USPS handle these transactions, qualified carriers can now manage the entire clearance process themselves.
Why 3PLs Should Care
The qualified postal import party designation represents a competitive advantage in the cross-border fulfillment space. For 3PLs working with international sellers, partnering with qualified carriers means faster customs clearance and fewer delivery delays on postal imports.
The CBP approval also signals continued evolution in how cross-border shipments move through US entry points. As more carriers gain this authority, the traditional postal monopoly on low-value international packages continues eroding—creating new routing options for logistics providers managing global inventory.
