/2 Until now, goods worth less than $800 have been allowed to enter the United States duty-free under what is known as the de minimis exemption. But in July, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that from Aug. 29 all parcels will need to pay "all applicable duties."
/3 That will impose an added cost and paperwork on Canadian online sellers who have previously shipped to the United States under the de minimis exemption.
This is a huge concern for small online businesses. The new rules aren’t clear by any means. For now, it’s easiest to turn off shipping to the US altogether and wait. Some can afford to do this, others may lose their full revenue streams. That’s on top of the angst around Canada Post negotiations.