Selling on Etsy and Shipping to the U.S.? Here’s How Chit Chats Can Help

Starting July 9, Etsy will require duties and import fees to be shown upfront on eligible U.S.-bound orders to maintain Etsy Purchase Protection eligibility. With Chit Chats, you can access low-cost shipping to the U.S., and estimate tariff costs directly within our platform to help you ship with confidence.

If you sell on Etsy and ship orders to the United States, there’s an important change you’ll want to be aware of: U.S.-bound orders will need to include applicable duties and import fees upfront in order for shops to remain eligible for Etsy Purchase Protection.

Navigating cross-border shipping requirements can feel overwhelming, but that’s where Chit Chats can help. Keep reading to learn how we allow you to stay compliant, save money, and simplify your Etsy shipping process.

Simplify Your Etsy Shipping with Store Integration

After your shipment is processed, tracking details will be automatically sent back to Etsy and the order is marked as fulfilled, helping you keep your store up to date with minimal effort.

Want to get started? Check out our support article for step-by-step instructions on connecting your Etsy shop.

Ship to the U.S. Duty-Free with CUSMA

Before shipping orders to the United States, it’s worth determining whether your products qualify for preferential tariff treatment under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

Eligible products may enter the U.S. duty-free if they meet CUSMA’s rules of origin requirements.This means you can keep your costs low on your Etsy store and be competitive within the market.  However, the product must have a Country of Origin (where it is manufactured/or experienced substantial transformation) in Canada, the United States, or Mexico and be classified under an eligible Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code.

Once you have identified your product’s HTS code, you can:

• Review its eligibility on the official U.S. HTS database
  • Products that qualify for CUSMA preferential treatment will typically display an “S” or “S+” in the Special Rate column. 
  • In some cases, the General Duty column may instead indicate a duty rate of “Free.”

For step-by-step guidance on obtaining and submitting a CUSMA certification, visit our support article.

Visible Tariff and Duty Rates

After determining whether your products qualify for CUSMA, a great next step is to create a test shipment in your Chit Chats account. This allows you to preview any applicable duties, tariffs, and fees, helping you better understand the total cost of shipping.

To create U.S.-bound shipments, each product must include:

• A Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code
• A Country of Origin

When purchasing postage through Chit Chats, any applicable charges are displayed upfront, providing greater transparency before you ship.

These fees fall into three categories:

1. Tariff:
   1. These are customs charges assessed by U.S. Customs and may include general duty rates as well as any additional applicable tariff categories. When multiple duty types apply, they are displayed separately for greater visibility.
2. Customs Processing*:
   1. A flat fee or $1.35 USD (~$1.88 CAD) per shipment, covering administrative costs for informal entry into the U.S. 
3. Broker Line Item*:
   1. $0.15 USD (~$0.21 CAD) fee per line item in a shipment concerning brokerage fees. For example, one t-shirt, two mugs, and three pens would represent three lines items.

*CUSMA-eligible shipments still are applicable to the associated fees.

By reviewing these charges, you can better understand your costs and make the necessary adjustments for your U.S. order on Etsy. 

Need Help Navigating These Changes?

Keeping up with evolving U.S. shipping requirements can be a lot, especially when duties, tariffs, and compliance requirements are involved. That’s why we’re here to help.

Whether you’re looking for guidance on CUSMA eligibility, tariff calculations, customs requirements, or shipping to the U.S. through Etsy, Chit Chats offers a variety of resources to support your business. Explore our blog and support library for detailed guides, best practices, and step-by-step instructions designed to help you ship with confidence.

Looking for more personalized assistance? You can also book a call with one of our onboarding specialists. We’ll walk you through the Chit Chats platform, answer your questions, and help you build a strategy that keeps your business compliant while maximizing savings.

With the right tools and support, cross-border shipping doesn’t have to be complicated.