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U.S. Shipping Updates: Tariffs, Duties, Compliance & More

Find all the latest updates regarding U.S. shipping specific to tariffs, duties, regulations

Update: October 29, 2026

U.S. Shipping Update: Temporary Customs Processing Delays for ON Crossing

We’re currently experiencing customs filing delays affecting certain U.S.-bound shipments crossing through Ontario. 

Which Shipments Are Affected?

Shipments accepted in Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada and Alberta between October 20 and October 28, 2026, may be affected.

If your shipment is impacted, you’ll see an alert on its tracking page so you can easily identify any delays and stay informed.

What Happens Next?

Our team is actively working to resolve these delays and get your shipments moving as quickly as possible!

We’ll continue to keep you informed as more details become available.

We know how important reliable shipping is to your business, especially as we head into the busy holiday season. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through these delays and help your shipments get back on track.

Update: October 28, 2026

U.S. Section 338 Tariffs: Updated HTS Codes Effective October 30

We’ve got an important update to share about Section 338 tariffs for shipments heading to the U.S.!

Starting Friday, October 30, 2026, changes to the list of HTS codes subject to Section 338 tariffs will take effect.

As part of this update:

  • 77 HTS codes will be removed from the list of codes subject to Section 338 tariffs.
  • 166 new HTS codes will be added to the list.

These changes may affect the tariffs applied to your U.S.-bound shipments, depending on the products you’re shipping.

What Does This Mean for Your Shipments?

Our platform will be updated later this evening, October 28, to reflect the revised HTS code list.

This means that shipments received starting Thursday, October 29, and scheduled to cross the U.S. border on Friday, October 30, or later will have their Section 338 tariffs calculated using the updated codes.

As always, we’ll also recalculate applicable tariffs for shipments included in trips crossing the border on October 30 and onward to ensure the correct tariffs are applied. Therefore, there is no need to recreate postage. 

Reminder: CUSMA does not apply to Section 338 tariffs.

Check the Updated HTS Code List

Not sure if these changes affect your products? We’ve updated our Section 338 HTS code list with a new tab showing the codes that will be subject to these tariffs starting October 30.

We recommend reviewing the updated list and checking the HTS codes associated with your products to stay informed about any potential changes to your shipping costs.

View the Updated Section 338 HTS Code List

We’ll continue to keep you informed about changes to U.S. tariffs so you can plan ahead and ship with confidence!

Update October 21, 2026

International Emergency Economics Powers Act (IEEPA) Refunds

We’re continuing to keep you informed about the latest developments regarding refunds for U.S. reciprocal tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

While U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has begun processing refunds for select entry categories, shipments sent with Chit Chats are still awaiting inclusion in the refund process.

At this time, there is no confirmed timeline for when refunds will begin for our applicable entry category.

We understand how important these refunds are to your business and want to reassure you that our team is continuing to closely monitor developments. We’ll keep you updated as soon as new information becomes available.

Thank you for your continued patience as we await further guidance.

For more information about U.S. tariff categories, please visit our blog.

Update: September 29, 2026

Changes in Expectations for Noncontiguous Destinations

As you may know, we always recommend allowing extra time when shipping to U.S. territories (U.S. Virgin Island, Puerto Rico, Guam, etc) and noncontiguous states (Alaska and Hawaii), as these shipments typically take longer to arrive.

If you’re shipping to these destinations, there are some upcoming USPS service expectation changes to keep in mind.

Starting October 1, 2026, USPS is updating its service expectations for packages traveling to these destinations.

These changes will affect the following Chit Chats services:

  • Chit Chats U.S. Edge
  • Chit Chats International Tracked to the U.S.
  • USPS Priority Mail

What’s changing?

USPS Priority Mail

  • USPS is updating the expected delivery timeframe for Priority Mail packages traveling to and from the following destinations:
    • Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands: 2–4 business days
    • Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Freely Associated States: 2–6 business days

Chit Chats U.S. Edge & Chit Chats International to the U.S.

  • Shipments traveling to these destinations will have a service expectation of 10 business days or more.
  • Transit times will vary depending on the origin and destination, and some shipments may take longer than 10 days.

These service expectations begin once the shipment is inducted with USPS.

Why is USPS making these changes?

USPS says these updated service expectations are intended to better reflect the transportation options available and the time required to travel to these destinations.

USPS is also moving to primarily using surface transportation for their Ground Advantage network to noncontiguous destinations. This helps reduce HAZMAT risks within the air transportation network.

What does this mean for your shipments?

If you’re shipping to a U.S. territory or noncontiguous state, be sure to keep these updated service expectations in mind when planning your shipments.

In particular, Chit Chats U.S. Edge and International Tracked shipments to the U.S. may take longer than you’re used to, with a service expectation of 10 days or more after induction with USPS.

As always, we recommend keeping these longer transit times in mind when setting delivery expectations for your customers.

These changes do not affect shipments within the contiguous United States.

Thanks for shipping with Chit Chats! We appreciate you trusting us to help get your packages where they need to go.

Update: September 23, 2026

HTS Codes Regulated by DOT

Cross-border shipping is an ever-evolving industry, and requirements can change from time to time. We know these updates can sometimes come as a surprise, so we’re here to help make the changes as clear as possible.

Due to updated guidance, we’re no longer able to accept HTS codes regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for shipments to the United States. This means that automotive parts associated with these regulated HTS codes can no longer be shipped to the U.S. through Chit Chats.

If you try to ship an affected product, you’ll see an error message when entering the HTS code letting you know that the item is regulated and cannot be shipped.

For a full list of the HTS codes affected by DOT regulations, view the complete list here.

Please note that the above list is subject to change based on the instruction of our broker and regulatory updates. 

We understand that shipping requirements can change unexpectedly, and we appreciate your understanding as we work to keep your shipments moving safely and in line with current regulations.

Restricted Countries of Origin – click to expand

Due to ongoing political tensions, the United States enforces sanctions that restrict imports from certain Countries of Origin. As a result, Chit Chats is unable to accommodate any products containing shipments originating from affected countries.

At this time, this includes products with a Country of Origin of:

  • Cuba
  • Palestine
  • Venezuela
  • Iraq
  • Myanmar
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • North Korea
  • Iran

*Please note that this list is subject to change based on evolving political circumstances and future U.S. policies.

Any shipments containing products from the above origins are not eligible for any U.S. postage through Chit Chats.

Important Reminders

No manufacturer info? Chit Chats International Tracked is an alternate solution for you. Read more

CUSMA

Submit for approval and duty-free treatment if the country of origin is Canada, U.S., or Mexico and you meet CUSMA requirements (Rules of Origin are met). If the HTS code indicates the S/S+ indicator or it shows Free in the General Duty column on the offical US site. Be sure to check that your HTS code is valid (appears on the US site).

  • Simply provide the country of origin, product description and 10 digit HTS code for approval
  • Once approved to see duty-free enter the same COO and HTS
  • If you had previously created SKUs that were approved be sure to enter the HTS and COO that was approved to continue seeing duty-free

Learn more

Incorrect or missing information – click to learn more

Common reasons for delays result from incorrect, vague or missing information – we’ve made adjustments to catch any missing information at time of postage creation.

U.S. Customs Border and Protection has implemented automated enforcement of package descriptions. This means you must ensure that all shipment descriptions are detailed. For example t-shirt is not acceptable but rather men’s cotton t-shirt. If your shipment does not have detailed descriptions this will cause your package to be rejected.

What You Can Do

  • 👉 Ensure you provide a valid 10 digit HTS code
  • 👉 Provide accurate and detailed shipment descriptions. Find examples in our previous blog
  • 👉 Ensure manufacturer information is valid and matches the country of origin
  • I.e. Country of origin is China – the manufacturer address MUST be a Chinese address
  • Entering placeholder text (Unknown, N/A, etc.) will result in shipments being rejected and further delays
Update on Informational Material – Oct 22, 2025 – click to see details

Shipments classified as informational materials are once again exempt from reciprocal tariffs, regardless of origin or CUSMA certification. For existing shipments, refresh rates to view updated tariff treatment. For details, see the CBP FAQ definition of informational materials here.

Section 301 Tariffs on goods from China

Depending on the product’s HTS code, an additional tariff for products from China may apply. These can be identified by hovering over the ‘1/’ in the HTS Schedule, and looking up the HTS Code provided in the tool tip, as pictured below:

These additional tariffs are considered ‘Section 301 Tariffs’ and can range from 7.5% to 25%, depending on the HTS Code. More information can be found on the Office of the United States Trade Representative website.

RESOURCE HUB – Find link by clicking for more details

With so much information find key topics below that will provide additional resources and FAQs to help you navigate these changes.

US Shipping Is Changing — And We’re All Feeling It

To our Chit Chats family,

Lately, everything is changing — and fast. There are new rules and regulations, which are demanding the creation of new systems. It’s been a lot to keep up with and you’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed.

Behind the scenes, our team is collaborating with our broker to develop the system and working closely with US Customs to ensure our Canadian ecommerce sellers have the information they need to remain compliant.

Not everything is in our control, Chit Chats is adapting as quickly as possible to support you through these transitions. The removal of the de minimis threshold has disrupted shipping in unprecedented ways. Not only are shipments being delayed and rejected but the new requirements are impacting your bottom line. 

What We’re Doing to Support You

We’re committed to leveraging our network to mitigate risks where we can, minimize the impact to you where possible. The learning curve is steep for all of us but we’re working around the clock to troubleshoot, communicate and provide solutions to help you continue to ship. 

We understand shipping is an integral part of your business but we also know your client experience matters. Whether you’re a solo Etsy artisan, a seasoned eBay seller, or a growing online brand, we know these changes are creating real challenges. 

🇨🇦 Chit Chats Puts Canada First

This isn’t the first time Canadian businesses have faced cross-border shipping challenges. In fact helping Canadian eCommerce sellers succeed is at the heart of what we do. Back in 2001, when our founder Derek Nolan saw firsthand how hard it was for small businesses to ship affordably and reliably from Canada and compete globally. That mission has never changed.

Moving Forward Together

We know this is a tough moment, but we want you to know we’re in it with you. Our commitment remains the same: to find solutions that empower Canadian businesses to thrive, no matter how the rules shift. Thank you for trusting us through this journey; we’ll continue to keep you informed and supported every step of the way.

FAQs

Postage Is DDU (duties unpaid) no longer available with Chit Chats? – click for answer

There are no DDU options at this time. We understand that many sellers prefer to have duties collected at the time of delivery from the recipient and our team is exploring if we can provide a solution. There is no timeline if and when a DDU solution will be available but we will update all clients if this changes.

For Chit Chats Edge and Chit Chats Select – is this a postal or non-postal service?

Due to our method of entry into the US, both Chit Chats U.S. Edge and U.S. Select are non-postal services. Other postages partnered with Canada Post and PostNL follow under postal services. You will not be required to pay the $200 ad valorem fee, however you will be expected to pay a tariff fee based on the item(s) declared.

If I ship with USPS Media Mail will this still be available? 

USPS Media Mail is available through our DDP (duties paid) option. The country of origin, valid HTS code, and manufacturer information must be declared in order to obtain rates. 

Will I need to provide a manufacturer address for books when I don’t have it?

  • To access DDP (duties paid) postage options you are required to provide manufacturer information. If it cannot be provided our DDU options can be an alternative as you only require the country of origin and a valid HTS code.