UPDATE - August 25th, 2025
By now, you've all probably heard about the de minimis exemption, which allows any order under $800 USD to enter the United States without any tariffs or customs charges. You've probably also seen from the news or other sellers that this exemption will allegedly be ended on August 29th. If this goes through, any package can be subject to duties and fees. This charge is set by the American government, and paid by American people to their own government.
The Trump administration is demanding that national post services like Canada Post only send packages with tariffs paid upfront, as the USPS has no ability to collect tariffs. However, the US government has not set up a system to collect payments, so there is no way to pay these tariffs upfront, nor does nearly any online store have the ability to calculate and collect these tariffs in the first place, nor is it any other country's responsibility or obligation to collect tariffs on the US's behalf.
As of August 29th, local postal services will be overhauling the way packages are processed and it will result in customs clearance delays while staff acclimatizes to the changes. As a result, all packages shipped to the USA will now be shipped via UPS until further notice. While we don't expect this to raise shipping prices to our American customers, please be aware that you may be required to pay import fees on packages as per US law. Please allow us extra time to process and ship your orders, especially if you have deadlines.
Original Post - August 19th, 2025
By now, you've all probably heard about the de minimis exemption, which allows any order under $800 USD to enter the United States without any tariffs or customs charges. You've probably also seen from the news or other sellers that this exemption will allegedly be ended on August 29th. If this goes through, any package can be subject to duties and fees. This charge is set by the American government, and paid by American people to their own government.
If this happens, it may also cause delays in shipping, as the American postal system (both public and private) does not have the capacity, infrastructure, training or systems to manage additional paperwork on 1.3 billion packages a year. If paying a tariff is of particular concern to you, you may want to consider getting shopping done sooner rather than later.
Please know that all of this is speculative, and that no seller you've seen anywhere online or in person has any idea of how this will work in practice, if it will go through, or what will happen.
Last time the Trump administration tried this globally, it had to be walked back within days. Their cancellation of de minimis for Chinese packages a few months ago has rarely been enforced. At present, Canada Post has gotten no formal notice from the American government on de minimis being cancelled, or any change in current agreements, and has advised us to continue business as usual with the understanding that the situation can change at any time.
Here at DL, we are preparing for the worst but hoping for the best. Being able to craft is important to all of us, and in some ways, more important that ever in bewildering and uncomfortable times. We'll do whatever we can to keep this ship sailing smoothly, and will not cut off American clients unless the Trump administration fully shuts down the border or otherwise gives us no choice. Thank you so much in advance for your patience and understanding for any delays and hiccups as we adapt to whatever happens!
With Love,
The Ladies
