Tariffs: A Cautionary Tale

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Kawika

This will be primarily of interest to residents of Canada who purchase cards from auction houses and other sellers in the States.

Today I received an invoice from FedEx that included an additional 25% tariff on top of GST/PST....

Oh, oh. That's going to put a real chill on my activities.

[Kawika]

Pushing midnight here. Just got a chance to re-read the guy's letter to me. Was hard to understood without delving into the tax references which is a non-starter for an illiterate peon such as myself. Am left wondering under what category of tariffed goods might fall antique sports collectibles. I'll write the guy again. Maybe he can persuade me that this is not a crock of bureaucratic BS. I will let you know. I'd be interested in hearing others' experiences of a similar vein. In the meantime I'll instruct him to ship it to a US friend unless it must be returned to Heritage. Like someone mentioned this will blow over eventually.

And since every thread needs a card or two . . .

[Tabe]

On the official Canadian Border Services Agency site, it says there's a 25% tariff on:

What the tariffs apply to
The tariffs apply to:

new or used goods with a value that exceeds the personal exemptions of the individual travellers bringing them into Canada
new or used goods imported by mail and courier
new or used goods originating from the US whether they are imported directly from the United States or not
commercial shipments
For more information on commercial shipments, refer to Customs Notice 25-10: United States Surtax Order (2025-1)

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-v...index-eng.html

It would seem your items fall into these criteria.

[doug.goodman]

I find it amusing that most suggested "solutions" involve an illegal activity by people who I presume would consider themselves law abiding citizens.

[doug.goodman]

Does anybody know the statute of limitations for smuggling an engagement ring into the US?

Asking for a friend.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

I find it amusing that most suggested "solutions" involve an illegal activity by people who I presume would consider themselves law abiding citizens.

Shipping to a friend, who then waits for the tariff situation to blow over, wouldn't be illegal, would it?

Setting up a P.O. box in the US, along the border, having it shipped there, then dressing as a nun to smuggle it across the border would be illegal.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Mark17

Shipping to a friend, who then waits for the tariff situation to blow over, wouldn't be illegal, would it?

I said most...

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Have any Americans here experienced anything similar lately in receiving orders from Canada? We've constantly been told that those tariffs have been placed on hold until a further date.

[carlsonjok]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

Have any Americans here experienced anything similar lately in receiving orders from Canada? We've constantly been told that those tariffs have been placed on hold until a further date.

You are thinking of the broad tariffs on all goods imported from Canada (USMCA agreement notwithstanding.) The 25% tariff in play here, which broadly covers goods not covered in USMCA, is in response to the 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum. Note that the US imports a lot of aluminum from Canada because aluminum production is very energy intensive, and Canada has access to a lot of cheap hydroelectric power.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

I find it amusing that most suggested "solutions" involve an illegal activity by people who I presume would consider themselves law abiding citizens.

But it's every citizens duty to resist the State's unceasing attempts to undermine our fundamental rights to life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness.

[carlsonjok]

Originally Posted by Kawika

Pushing midnight here. Just got a chance to re-read the guy's letter to me. Was hard to understood without delving into the tax references which is a non-starter. Am left wondering under what category of tariffed goods might fall antique sports collectibles. I'll write the guy again. Maybe he can persuade me that is not a crock.

I would ask specifically what Harmonized Tariff Schedule it was imported under. Collectibles are generally covered under HTS-4 9705 while printed matter is covered under HTS 4911. According to this list published by the Department of Finance Canada, neither HTS code is subject to the 25% tariff.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Kawika

Pushing midnight here. Just got a chance to re-read the guy's letter to me. Was hard to understood without delving into the tax references which is a non-starter for an illiterate peon such as myself. Am left wondering under what category of tariffed goods might fall antique sports collectibles. I'll write the guy again. Maybe he can persuade me that this is not a crock of bureaucratic BS. I will let you know. I'd be interested in hearing others' experiences of a similar vein. In the meantime I'll instruct him to ship it to a US friend unless it must be returned to Heritage. Like someone mentioned this will blow over eventually.

And since every thread needs a card or two . . .

-
Btw, fantastic Western Playground pick ups David, congrats.
-

[Vintage Vern]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Oh, oh. That's going to put a real chill on my activities.

There'll be a 25% tariff for each post you make. Leon will address the matter, and quote you the rate per letter per post. Thanks in advance.

Silence is Golden!

[Bpm0014]

I find it amusing that most suggested "solutions" involve an illegal activity by people who I presume would consider themselves law abiding citizens.

You can pay the extra $5100. I’m not.

I feel that bringing a Vince Carter, Toronto Raptors, rookie across the border in your carry on is hardly the crime of the century.

[Qcards]

I used to do a lot of border crossings with cards both from Canada to the U.S. and vice versa and always played it straight and paid the fees and taxes.

If you do bring cards from U.S. to Canada and do not declare them and they end up finding them, you will pay the tax and tariff and your license plate will be flagged for a five year period meaning you will be asked to park your car and come inside and explain what you are up to for the next five years coming into Canada.

As for crossing into the U.S. from Canada to ship cards without declaring them, that is an equally bad idea.

Absolutely not worth the risk IMHO

[BRoberts]

Originally Posted by Qcards

Absolutely not worth the risk IMHO

Net54 is an online community that has many members who routinely post here seeking free tax advice and investment guidance. Risk doesn't seem to be in the equation for a lot of people.

[JustinD]

Here in Detroit we have numerous POBox businesses that exist specifically to give the Canadians a US shipping address. They just drive over for their mail and take back home over the bridge or the tunnel.

Not saying this is correct for the Canadians to be doing, just that it is a fairly common practice seemingly.I know of several within a few blocks of the Windsor tunnel.

As money talks, I can see many more of these businesses popping up if the demand grows.

[Section103]

Originally Posted by Bpm0014

I find it amusing that most suggested "solutions" involve an illegal activity by people who I presume would consider themselves law abiding citizens.

You can pay the extra $5100. I’m not. Bringing a Vince Carter, Toronto Raptors, rookie across the border in your carry on is hardly the crime of the century.

Not all laws are just.

[V117collector]

Thanks for the heads up, David!

I didn't think the tariffs were in effect, as I've been receiving mail via stateside without getting hit with the 25%.
There must be some leeway seeing how my recent items only cost just over $100 USD (eBay).

I'll try to stop buying cards from the States until this trade war ends. It just seems once you need something there's always a catch.