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FAQ: Suspension of De Minimis

A new Executive Order was published declaring the suspension of Duty-Free De Minimis treatment for all countries, as of midnight, Friday August 29, 2025. Below are some frequently asked questions

Important:

We’re currently experiencing higher than usual inquiry volumes. Thank you for your patience as we respond in the order requests are received. In the meantime, see below for more information on CUSMA Certification.

Update Fri, Sep 5

Trending Topics

🔔CUSMA Certification >> Learn more

  • Find answers to common questions related to CUSMA here
  • To be eligible under CUSMA your HTS code must be valid https://hts.usitc.gov/ AND have the designation of CUSMA with the S or S+ indicator under the Special duty column.

Do I need to submit CUSMA if I don’t see an S or S+ on the US site in the Special Duty column?

  • No, you only submit CUSMA IF your 10 digit HTS code is valid and there is an S or S+ indicator. 
  • Your product could still be considered duty free and not under CUSMA (no S or S+) but remember blanket tariffs could apply. Duties & tarrifs are determined by country of origin AND 10 digit HTS code. 

How to take advantage of IEEPA exemptions (under HTSUS Chapter 49) so that we can still send books/informational etc to the US without tariffs? 

  • Our team identified a bug that was causing issues with duty-free exemption for informational materials – a fix is in place so please refresh your shipment to see updates.
  • If you’re still experiencing issues please contact support@chitchats.com with the HTS code and country of origin or shipment ID and we will investigate further.

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.

Resource Hub

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

Glossary
Country of Origin & Manufacturer Information
HTS Codes, Tariffs/Duties
CUSMA
Resources & Support Contacts

FAQs

Postage Options – click to expand

Is DDU (duties unpaid) no longer available with Chit Chats?

  • Chit Chats will continue to offer DDU options such as Chit Chats International Tracked, and Chit Chats Canada Post Tracked Packet USA / Expedited Parcel USA, however availability of the postal services will remain until notification by the Secretary to the President.
    • Duties applicable
    • Canada Post options will be at your own discretion as we have seen some shipments with the country of origin of China being returned with no reason. There is confusion between CBP, USPS and Canada Post on who will collect duties. 

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.

If we pay for DDP does that mean we won’t be hit with the $200 ad valorem?

  • Correct, our DDP services are considered to be non-postal. 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.

Declared value should be what the retail value is – proof of invoice is ideal as it may be requested to be provided by US Customs. Learn more

Books – click to expand

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. 

For tariff purposes. How to take advantage of IEEPA exemptions (apparently under HTSUS Chapter 49) so that we can still send books etc to the US without tariffs? 

  • Regarding books, the respective HTS code is dependent on the nature of the item (textbook, paperback novel, children’s picture book, etc.).
  • Depending on the HTS code associated with the book-related item, it may be exempt from the base duty rate. In addition, we have confirmed that they are exempt from blanket (aka reciprocal) tariffs as well. There may be additional duties depending on the country of origin, refer to the HTS website to confirm.
  • 🔔Our team identified a bug that was causing issues with duty-free exemption for informational materials – a fix is in place so please refresh your shipment to see updates. If you’re still experiencing issues please contact support@chitchats.com with the HTS code and country of origin or shipment ID and our team will investigate further.

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.
Update Aug 28

✅ DDP Postage

The only way to ship to the US is with DDP (duties paid). 

  • To see postage rates for DDP, it is mandatory to provide:
    • The Country of Origin (COO) of the product (also physically labelled)
    • Manufacturer information (address & postal code that match the COO)
    • 10 digit HTS code, (valid as per US Harmonized Tariff Schedule) which determines the applicable tariff rate
  • Common errors if you cannot see postage is invalid HTS code or missing manufacturer information.

DDP Costs Breakdown

  • Postage cost (as usual)
  • Chit Chats Insurance (if added)
  • Duties/Tariffs (if applicable)
  • Merchandise processing fee (MPF)
    • Calculated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and may change at their discretion. It is a flat fee per shipment (1.35 USD flat fee).
  • Shipment items fee
    • Individual item processing fee for broker to process the individual HTS coded items in the shipment (0.15 USD / line item).
    • Example: You are shipping 1 tshirt, 2 mugs and 3 pins = 3 shipment items
  • *These fees are subject to change – we have worked hard to keep these as low as possible as we understand sellers are grappling with having to now also pay for duties on top of postage costs.

CUSMA Certification Information

To prepare have the following details available:

  • Manufacturer business name
  • Manufacturer address (including country)
  • SKU
    • A SKU, or Stock Keeping Unit, is a unique alphanumeric code that businesses use to identify and track their inventory. It’s essentially a product identifier
  • SKU description
  • HTS 10 digit code
  • Origin criteria: A, B or C
    • This indicates whether the goods are:
      • A: Wholly obtained or produced entirely in the territory of one or more Parties.
      • B: Produced entirely in the territory of one or more Parties using non-originating materials, provided they meet specific rules of origin.
      • C: Produced entirely in the territory of one or more Parties exclusively from originating materials.
  • Blanket period – cannot exceed one calendar year.
    • Ex: January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025
  • Country of Origin: Requires indicating Canada, US, or Mexico
Update Aug 20

We have been informed from our partner carrier, PostNL, that the DDU (duties unpaid) option to ship to the US via Chit Chats International Tracked will be temporarily unavailable. Starting today, August 20 we will disable Chit Chats International Tracked as a DDU (recipient pays duties) option for US shipments. Chit Chats International Tracked will still be available to ship to other countries.

What does this mean?

  • Wed, Aug 20 – last day Chit Chats International packages to the US will be accepted at Chit Chats branches
  • Thu, Aug 21 onwards – Chit Chats International Tracked US shipments will no longer be accepted at branches
    • We will return back to you and you can request a postage refund through your Chit Chats account
  • Mon, Aug 25: Last day to send mail-ins, SmartDrop, drop at Drop Spots, and our Bedford, NS branch.
  • Tue, Aug 26: Last day to drop off US de minimis shipments at branches in Alberta
  • Wed, Aug 27: Last day to drop off US de minimis shipments at branches in BC, Ontario and Quebec.
  • Thu, Aug 28: Chit Chats’ last border crossing with US de minimis
  • Fri, Aug 29: Chit Chats U.S. Edge and U.S. Select shipments must have tariffs and fees paid in advance (DDP)