Want the secondhand scoop?
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form. Please try again.
Having trouble making sense of the global trade war, U.S.-Canada tariff situation, what applies to you and how it affects you as a buyer or seller? Here’s what you need to know
Ed. note: This article was originally published on Feb. 12, 2025 and is frequently updated to reflect the latest events. We cover global tariffs as they relate to the retail/resale sector, but especially as they pertain to the relationship between Canada and the United States. We do not cover what’s happening with steel, aluminium, dairy, electricity, etc.
Buyers and sellers of vintage, antiques and secondhand are affected by the global trade war either directly or indirectly.
We’re here to answer your questions on what this means for your purchases and shipments, and for the community.
Use the navigation below to jump to your most frequently asked questions. If you have a question that isn’t addressed here, contact us.
General questions
What's the latest on tariffs in vintage and secondhand?
What are tariffs and who pays?
What goods and countries are currently subject to tariffs?
What vintage and secondhand goods are included in Canada's retaliatory tariffs?
How are tariffs applied to vintage, antique and secondhand products?
Do tariffs apply to in-person border crossings, too?
Are all items costing me more as a buyer?
De minimis/duty-free exemptions
De minimis/duty-free exemptions: Do I still have to pay?
Why is the tariff for made-in-China goods now higher for small parcels than it is for large ones?
Are antiques over 100 years old exempt?
If I ship or import this item, what will the tariff be?
What other exemptions should I be aware of?
Compliance, country of origin, USMCA/CUSMA
What should sellers be doing to comply?
How do I determine country of origin?
What if I don't know country of origin?
Do items over 20 years old need to be marked with country of origin?
What if I'm shipping/ordering something that is passing through the U.S. but not staying there?
What are considered USMCA/CUSMA-compliant goods?
Can vintage, antiques & secondhand goods be USMCA-compliant?
What happens if the item I'm ordering/sending isn't USMCA/CUSMA- compliant?
How can I prove origin for USMCA compliance?
What do I have to include in certification of origin if I want to claim USMCA compliance?
I found a ruling online that states something. Can I apply it to my scenario?
Support & impact
Should I buy vintage and secondhand locally/within my own country?
What does the trade war mean for vintage, antiques and secondhand buyers and sellers?
Who in the North American market is actually being impacted?
Is it true that tariffs could help the vintage & antiques market?
How can I adapt to these changes as a seller?
How did this trade war get started?
Where can I find more tariffs resources?
On Jul. 31, a U.S. appeals court will render a decision on Trump's appeal on the U.S. Court of International Trade's May 28 ruling that many of the tariffs the U.S. government has enacted using emergency powers are not legal.
On Jul. 30, the U.S. government announced that it will end the de minimis exemption that allows packages from any country valued at or under US$800 to enter the U.S. duty free as of Aug. 29. More on this below.
Canada and Mexico
Canada and the U.S. are currently in trade talks to reach a deal before Aug. 1. If no deal is reached, U.S. President Donald Trump has said he would raise Canada's tariffs to 35 per cent.
Canada and Mexico currently have tariffs of 25 per cent, only for “USMCA (CUSMA)- compliant goods.” For an explanation of what that means and why it’s unlikely to include your vintage products, see the relevant question below.
USMCA/CUSMA is the free trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico. It is called USMCA in the U.S., CUSMA in Canada and T-MEC in Mexico.
For any good travelling into the U.S. from Canada or Mexico that doesn’t meet USMCA/CUSMA requirements or the “de minimis” exemption (more below), a 25 per cent tariff is being applied.
Canada’s retaliatory tariffs of 25 per cent remain in place on $30 billion worth of American goods, including retail, but the Canadian government has indefinitely paused its previously announced second set of tariffs on $125 billion worth of retail goods.
China
If an item is originally made in China, Hong Kong or Macau is valued over US$800 its duties are 30 per cent, plus any existing product-specific tariffs.
If an item with a country of origin of China, Hong Kong or Macau valued at or under US$800 arrives via express carrier, it receives a duty of 30 per cent.
If an item with a country of origin of China, Hong Kong or Macau valued at or under US$800 is arriving via international mail (postal service), it will instead receive a duty of 54 per cent, plus a flat fee of $100 per item.
International
Many other countries are also in negotiations to reach deals before Aug. 1.
The U.S. has recently announced deals with a few countries including the United Kingdom, which will receive a tariff of 10 per cent, and the European Union, which will receive a tariff of 15 per cent.
About 180 countries have a tariff of 10 per cent until Aug. 1, at which point if they have not reached a deal, the rate may change.
De minimis exemptions still exist for those countries until Aug. 29.
Tariffs are a surcharge applied to a product when it enters a country.
It is the importer — meaning the business who is ordering the goods or the individual consumer who has placed an order for the goods — who pays that money to the federal government.
Think of it like a duty that gets collected. The U.S. government (U.S. Customs & Border Protection, or CBP) collects the tariff duties on items shipped to the U.S. The Canadian government (Canada Border Services Agency, or CBSA) collects the tariff duties on items shipped to Canada.
If you’re ordering from an online marketplace or directly from a reseller, you as the consumer would pay the tariff on the final selling price of your item.
If you’re running a company importing in bulk or receiving a large shipment, you would pay the tariff on the value of your shipment.
If you are a buyer purchasing an item domestically, but that item that was originally imported from elsewhere by a shop and then marked up to cover the cost of the tariff, you indirectly pay that tariff.
The 2025 tariffs are calculated on the value of the good, and are paid over and above any existing applicable tariffs, customs duties and/or taxes. Some products have their own special tariffs independent of the ones announced this year. So any given purchase may have a new tariff, a customs duty and a tax applied.
U.S. consumers and companies (aka importers) must pay the U.S. government tariffs of 25 per cent on all imported goods that do not comply with USMCA/CUSMA and that originate (a.k.a. were manufactured in) in Canada and Mexico for all items valued over US$800 (which is the “de minimis,” or duty-free, exemption).
According to the Associated Press, approximately 62 per cent of Canadian exports are not considered USMCA compliant. Being USMCA compliant means you can prove an item’s origin to be Canada, United States or Mexico, which is difficult to do with vintage, antiques and secondhand goods.
U.S. consumers and companies (aka importers) must pay the U.S. government tariffs of at least 30 per cent for goods made in China and Hong Kong for goods valued over US$800.
If an item with a country of origin of China, Hong Kong or Macau valued at or under US$800 is arriving via courier/express carrier (i.e. UPS), its duty owing is also 30 per cent, until Aug. 12.
If an item with a country of origin of China, Hong Kong or Macau valued at or under US$800 is arriving via international mail (postal service), it will receive a duty of 54 per cent plus a flat fee of $100 per item.
These rules for China and Hong Kong apply no matter which country the items were originally shipped from.
U.S. consumers and companies (aka importers) must pay the U.S. government tariffs of 10 per cent when importing any goods valued over US$800 originating from 180 countries other than Canada, Mexico, China and Hong Kong.
As the U.S. makes deals with different countries, those tariff rates may change. For example, South Korea is paying 15 per cent, Japan is paying 15 per cent, the European Union is paying 15 per cent and the United Kingdom is paying 10 per cent.
Canadian consumers and companies (aka importers) must pay retaliatory tariffs, called a surtax, of 25 per cent on certain goods made in the U.S., including clothing, jewellery and more (see a partial list below).
This surtax is applied to any shipments valued over CA$150 when sent by courier and over CA$20 when sent by mail.
The surtax is also applied to in-person border crossings: If a resident has visited the U.S. less than 24 hours, if they've brought back more than CA$200 after 24-48 hours, or if they've brought back more than CA$800 after 48 hours.
Just as with the U.S., the Canadian surtax applies even when the made-in-America item has been exported from a country other than the U.S. into Canada.
Tariffs are applied based on country of origin and stand even if the product is being exported by another country.
In the U.S., if the item was originally made in a country on its 10 per cent tariff list and is valued over US$800, the tariff applies.
Duties and tariffs between 30 and 54 cent apply to items entering the U.S. that were originally made in China, Hong Kong and Macau. For more info on that, see the section on de minimis.
As far vintage, antiques and secondhand products in North America go, these tariffs apply to everything coming into the U.S. — including items that previously fell under free trade regardless of value, such as antiques over 100 years old — if those items are not compliant with the regulations of USMCA/CUSMA.
In Canada, the tariffs apply to a range of vintage and secondhand products (see a partial list below).
Tariffs are paid on top of any existing rates of duty. They are paid by the person or company who imports the item.
For example, a bale is filled with women’s silk suits and dresses, all made in Canada between the 1980s and 1990s. It's valued over US$800 and heading to the States. The bale is already subject to a duty of 7.1 per cent according to the tariff rate schedule. The new 25 per cent tariff gets added on in addition to that initial 7.1 per cent.
Here are some additional scenarios:
A shop in the U.K. sells a vintage painting to a U.S. customer. The painting is valued at $1,000 and was originally created in Canada. The customer must pay an extra $250 to cover the tariff of 25 per cent, because Canadian products are being tariffed no matter where they arrive from.
A Canadian shop sells an antique coat originally manufactured in Canada to a U.S. customer visiting Canada for three days. It's valued at US$1,900 and it's over 100 years old. There's a US$800 exemption, and the remaining $1,100 receives a tariff of 25 per cent because it is not USMCA compliant. The customer must pay a $275 duty upon return to the U.S.
A Canadian shop sells a vintage armoire originally manufactured in Canada to a U.S. customer. The selling price is $3,500. The seller has a certificate of authenticity for the armoire, knows all about the manufacturer, and is able to complete a certification of origin to ship alongside the armoire. The armoire is considered USMCA-compliant by U.S. border agents, and does not receive a 25 per cent tariff.
A U.S. shop sells a vintage candelabra made in the U.S. to a Canadian visiting for the day. The selling price is equivalent to CA$130, but the Canadian only visited the U.S. for six hours. The Canadian must pay a 25 per cent surtax when returning to Canada for not meeting the in-person duty-free requirements. They owe $32.50 in surtax, plus any applicable existing taxes.
A shop in Canada sells a wooden box inlaid with mother of pearl to a U.S. customer. The box was originally made in China, sells for US$90 and is arriving via mail. The box is subject to a tariff of 54 per cent plus a flat fee of US$100, meaning that the customer owes US$148.60 in duties to customs.
A Canadian shop ships a vintage hand-beaded dress originally manufactured in India to a U.S. customer. Its selling price is US$1,600. There's an exemption of US$800, and the remaining $800 in value receives a tariff of 10 per cent, because that is the rate of duty the U.S. is applying to goods from India. That's US$80. In addition, the dress might be subject to other, existing duties due to its country of origin, and its value exceeding the duty-free exemption.
A shop in Japan sells a vintage necklace to a Canadian customer valued at CA$550. The necklace was originally manufactured in the U.S. It has precious stones and is on Canada's list of made-in-U.S. items. The customer pays a 25 per cent surtax, which is $137.50.
A U.S. shop ships a vintage platter made in Mexico to a Canadian customer and the selling price was US$190. The customer does not have to pay the new 25 per cent surtax because the surtax only applies to U.S.-made goods. However, the platter may be subject to additional existing duties because its value is over CA$150.
A U.K. shop ships a vintage designer jumpsuit originally manufactured in the U.K. to a U.S. customer. It's valued at US$949. The jumpsuit receives a tariff of 10 per cent, because that is the rate of duty the U.S. is applying to goods from the U.K. That's $94.90.
A Chinese shop ships a vintage bomber jacket originally manufactured in Hong Kong to a U.S. customer and is arriving via international mail. It's valued at US$200. The customs officers decide to apply a $100 flat fee for the customer to pay instead of a tariff of 120 per cent.
The Mar. 6 adjustment to the U.S. tariffs against Canada and Mexico indicates goods that are USMCA/CUSMA compliant (i.e., they meet the rules of the current free trade agreement) will not be subject to tariffs.
The USMCA-compliant exemption only applies to goods being shipped into the U.S. Canada’s surtax on retail goods is applied, even if the goods comply with CUSMA requirements.
A good that is USMCA/CUSMA compliant means that it is accompanied by a certification of origin to prove that it was made in Canada, the United States or Mexico. See below for more info.
If the value of the goods is lower than US$2,500, the full certification of origin isn’t required, but a written statement must be included with the shipment to certify that the goods originated in Canada, the U.S., or Mexico.
They can be, but it’s not always easy. You would need, ideally, a certificate of authenticity.
Jewellery, antiques and items that have been professionally appraised may have this.
Tags, written documents, research and/or records can be used to trace a producer to North America, but the materials used to produce the item also need to meet certain requirements outlined in USMCA.
This is difficult in many cases — secondhand items are often missing tags, marks and manufacturer information.
For more answers about USMCA compliance, see relevant questions below.
These are just some of the categories and products included on the list of U.S.-origin products that Canada is collecting a 25 per cent surtax on.
Art & collectibles
Clothing & accessories
Jewellery
Home decor & furniture
Luggage & bags
For the full list, click here.
The “de minimis” exemption (aka Section 321) that allows items valued under US$800 to enter the U.S. duty free remains in place for the time being for Canada, Mexico and most countries, until Aug. 29.
This means as long as the value of your shipment coming into the U.S. is under US$800, you won’t be subject to possible tariffs, even if the item is made in the originating country (aside from China, Hong Kong and Macau).
The country of origin must be noted on all packages (more on that below).
The “de minimis” exemption will be removed for all countries on Aug. 29, meaning that goods valued at or under US$800 will have tariffs applied, too.
As of Aug. 29, goods imported to the U.S. valued at or under US$800 and arriving via courier/express carrier will receive all applicable duties, meaning the tariffs that have been announced for their country of origin, plus any pre-existing duties.
As of Aug. 29, goods imported to the U.S. valued at or under US$800 and arriving via international mail (e.g., USPS/Canada Post and other equivalent national carriers) will receive duties as well.
In most cases, the package value will receive a duty equal to the tariff rate that has been set out for that country this year. For example, 10 per cent for made-in-U.K. items. In other cases, for a period of only six months and depending on the product, each individual item in the package will receive a duty between US$80 to US$200 per item. After that point, those special cases will also receive tariffs at the rate outlined for their country.
There are already tariffs on imports of goods that originated in China, Hong Kong and Macau valued at or under US$800 — even if they are arriving from another country.
If an item previously covered under de minimis is originally made in China, Hong Kong or Macau and arriving into the U.S. via courier/express carrier, it is subject to a duty of 30 per cent until Aug. 12.
If an item previously covered under de minimis is originally made in China, Hong Kong or Macau via international mail (postal service), it is subject to a duty of 54 per cent plus a flat fee of $100 per item, until Aug. 12.
Let's say a U.S. customer is purchasing an item made in China from a Canadian shop on Etsy. The item price is equivalent to US$25 and arriving via mail. That item receives a duty of 54 per cent, plus a flat fee of US$100, totalling US$113.50.
If a U.S. customer is purchasing an item from a Hong Kong shop for US$350 and it arrives via courier, that item receives a duty of 30 per cent. That means the customer owes an additional US$105 in duties to customs, plus any existing tariffs or duties.
In Canada, there is an equivalent to de minimis called value for duty, which is the base amount used to calculate duty owed on goods being imported. You can think of it like a de minimis exemption.
The value for duty of an imported good (the item being shipped) in Canada via courier (e.g., FedEx) is CA$150, meaning that any goods being imported via courier with a value under CA$150 are not subject to duties or the retaliatory tariff (surtax). Any goods imported via courier over CA$40 are subject to tax, however.
The value for duty of an imported good (the item being mailed) in Canada via mail (e.g. United States Postal Service) is CA$20, meaning that any goods being imported via mail with a value under CA$20 are not subject to duties or the retaliatory tariff (surtax). Any goods imported via mail over CA$20 are still subject to tax.
In addition, “goods that are made in the U.S. and are repaired or altered across the border — for example, a specialized good in the U.S. might require repair in Canada, or vice versa,” would not be subject to the surtax, according to the CBSA's documentation. However, “if the good were in Canada, it would need to already be duty paid.”
Note that there is a different value for duty exemption of CA$200 for in-person border crossings after you have visited the U.S. for between 24-48 hours, and CA$800 after 48 hours. This is not the same as the CA$150 value for duty for packages being shipped via courier, or the CA$20 value for duty for items being shipped via mail.
The tariff for goods entering the U.S. that are made in China, Hong Kong or Macau valued over US$800, as well as goods arriving under US$800 via courier or commercial carrier, is 30 per cent. This is part of a temporary "pause" on the back-and-forth raising of tariffs.
But the tariffs for those same country-of-origin goods valued at or under US$800 entering via mail (e.g., USPS) are 54 per cent.
So the tariff for all small parcels is not higher than it is for large ones — it is only if they are coming via mail.
In theory, you could have an item valued at US$600 coming via mail that receives a duty at 54 per cent of US$324 and a US$100 flat fee totalling US$424, and an item valued at US$810 coming via courier that receives a duty at 30 per cent of US$243.
The heavy tariffs on “small parcels” (the catch-all term for items valued at or under US$800) are intended to discourage the high-volume, low-cost goods arriving from Chinese manufacturers including SHEIN and Temu.
Unfortunately, as of this moment, small businesses that move low-value parcels across the border via mail are also affected by this rule.
Under the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA/CUSMA/T-MEC) free trade agreement, many classifications of antiques over 100 years old, or over 250 years old, were exempt from tariffs and duties.
The tariffs announced by the U.S. on Mar. 4 on Canada and Mexico are considered sweeping and override the agreement, meaning antiques valued over US$800 are currently subject to tariffs of 25 per cent, too.
Country of origin must be declared, as must value of goods and the HTS classification code.
If you are able to prove origin with a complete certification of origin, you can claim adherence to the USMCA agreement and avoid tariffs.
It is possible this will change as the U.S. government further defines their import rules and/or a new trade deal is reached. Until we receive word otherwise, assume your antiques will receive a tariff if they are over US$800.
You can request a customs ruling for your particular case.
Any product arriving to the U.S. by way of another country that was originally manufactured in the U.S. may also be exempt from any other applicable tariffs or duties under the “domestic status” provision.
These items are considered previously imported and have either had their duty and tax paid or are free of duty and tax.
For example, if a Canadian shop is shipping a product that was originally manufactured in the U.S., it may not be subject to duties.
Canada has a similar system whereby items originally made in Canada may be re-imported and may qualify for duty-free re-entry.
Both of these exemptions are independent of the current tariffs. They were already in place.
Continued below
Continued from above
See the following sections for specific examples: How are tariffs applied to products and do tariffs apply to in-person crossings?
Not necessarily. Goods you purchase within your own country won’t have a tariff applied.
But over time, the base cost of goods, even those you purchase within your own country, will cost more, because:
a) all raw materials will cost more;
b) companies that must import inventory and pay tariffs will need to raise their prices to cover the costs, and;
c) many items related to running a business will also have their costs go up (for example, if a vintage shop is purchasing office supplies that cost more than they did a year ago due to tariffs, the shop might pass that cost on to their consumer by raising the prices for their vintage items).
Right now, the ways buyers directly pay a tariff are:
1) If you are a U.S. consumer or company (the importer) purchasing goods valued over US$800 that are originally from Canada, Mexico or a country on the U.S.'s list of more than 180 countries (excluding China, Hong Kong or Macau) from any seller outside of the U.S.
However, if the business shipping to you is located in Canada or Mexico and can certify their product is USMCA/CUSMA-compliant, you as the buyer would be exempt from paying tariffs.
2) If you are a U.S. consumer or business purchasing goods, no matter the value, originally manufactured in China, Hong Kong or Macau, from any seller outside of the U.S.
3) If you are a Canadian consumer or business ordering certain goods that originated in the U.S. valued over CA$150 (courier), CA$20 (mail) or CA$200 (in-person), from any seller outside Canada. In those cases you will have to pay surtax (retaliatory tariff).
4) If you are in a country other than Canada or the U.S. that has its own set of tariffs applied to U.S.-made goods, and you are ordering a U.S.-made product from any seller outside your country.
In all cases, you may be subject to additional tariffs depending on what you are buying and from where.
Yes. Remember that for Canadian residents, there is a different value for duty exemption for in-person border crossings vs. imported goods via courier or mail.
For in-person border crossings, the exemption is CA$200 after you have visited the U.S. for between 24-48 hours, and CA$800 after 48 hours. If you have visited less than 24 hours, there is no exemption. If you exceed the exemption, you must pay duty on the full amount.
For American residents, the duty-free exemption for in-person border crossings after visiting Canada is US$200 for less than 48 hours, and US$800 for more than 48 hours until Aug. 29. As of Aug. 29, the US$800 exemption will no longer be available, and it will cap at US$200. If you exceed the exemption, you pay duty on the difference.
As for how they are applied, it depends on where those items were made.
Canada's surtax (retaliatory tariffs — the tariffs Canadians pay the Canadian government upon re-entering Canada) of 25 per cent only applies to certain items that were originally manufactured in the U.S.
Canadians pay Canada's tariffs to Canadian border officials. Americans pay American tariffs to U.S. border officials.
Here are a few scenarios:
Example 1: A Canadian visits the U.S. for a half a day, and thrifts CA$100 worth of clothes or home decor made in the U.S. that fall under Canada's list of tariffed U.S. products. They pay 25 per cent surtax when coming back to Canada, or CA$25.
Example 2: An American visits Canada for 31 hours, and thrifts clothes or home decor made in Canada but doesn't spend more than US$200. They do not have to pay a tariff when returning to the U.S.
Example 3: A Canadian visits the States for 28 hours, and thrifts a bunch of clothes and home decor, including ones made in the U.S., but doesn't spend more than the equivalent of CA$200. They pay no surtax when returning to Canada.
Example 4: A Canadian was in the States for three full days and spent CA$1,000 thrifting, all of the items were made in the U.S. They exceeded their exemption, so they owe 25 per cent surtax when returning to Canada. That's CA$250.
Example 5: An American visits Canada for five days, and thrifts clothes or home decor made in Canada, spending US$1,500. They exceeded the exemption and owe a 25 per cent tariff on the difference of US$700 when returning to the U.S., equivalent to US$175.
Example 6: An American visits Canada for nine days, and buys clothes or home decor made in Canada worth US$900, and clothes or home decor made in India worth US$900. They get an exemption of $800, and owe a 25 per cent tariff on the remaining US$100 in Canadian-made items, which is US$25, plus a 10 per cent tariff on the remaining $900 in Indian-made items, equivalent to US$225, totalling US$250.
These are general examples, because items are assessed individually. So it depends on what mix of product you are bringing back and which countries they originated from.
If none of the thrifted items were manufactured in a tariffed country, but a person still spends over their duty-free exemption limit, they may still owe other duties that were in place already, depending on what country the items were originally manufactured in.
Small secondhand businesses across North America rely on cross-border sales and with duty-free exemptions in the U.S. and Canada still allowed until Aug. 29, it’s business as usual for most low-value shopping that takes place online. There are no tariffs on goods valued at or under US$800 made in countries other than China, Macau and Hong Kong until Aug. 29. Please continue to support as you can.
Supporting locally can help to avoid tariff fees, but depending on the item you are buying and from what country, you may still find better prices than equivalent finds in your own country, even with tariff fees applied, because of the exchange rate.
Shopping local and supporting your communities has always been, and will always be, a good idea, too — find vintage, antiques and pre-loved shops near you, and online-based businesses that ship to you, at the Shop Secondhand Directory, which lists nearly 3,500 shops and services across Canada and the U.S. in more than 130 categories.
If you ship into the U.S. or Canada, label the country of origin on all packages.
No matter what the country of origin (COO) is, label it so it can be inspected properly. For example, if the country of origin of the product is France, declare it as such. Couriers are reporting that entire trucks are being turned around if there's one package that isn't labelled with COO.
For vintage, antiques and secondhand, the country of origin is the place the item was originally manufactured. You may not know this information, in which case proceed to the next question.
You also must include the corresponding 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code which can be found on the U.S. International Trade Commission website, or on the Canada Border Services Agency’s tariffs portal.
If you want to meet USMCA/CUSMA compliance for goods entering the U.S. and valued over US$800, scroll down to see what’s required.
Check tags, markings or manufacturer information to determine country of origin. If there are no tags or you don't know manufacturer, see the next question.
If you know the manufacturer but don't have an accompanying origin tag, check to see where they had factory operations.
Country of origin is where the product was originally manufactured or produced. There can only ever be one country of origin, so if it was worked on in multiple places, it is the last place it was worked on. There are many small rules around country of origin but this is generally how it works.
If you are in Canada, shipping an item made in China to the U.S., the country of origin is China, not Canada.
If there are no tags or clues to provenance for your item based on its materials, try to figure out the dominant material and where it was most likely to be made. For example, there's a good chance a fur might be made in Canada, and a silk made in China. This is how the border agencies classify tagless items.
If you can't figure it out, the safest thing to do is assume it was made in China and declare it as such.
If you have reason to believe an item was manufactured in Canada or the U.S., you can declare it as such. If it's a vintage piece it's more likely to have been locally manufactured. But you need to be able to prove that within reason. And if you can't prove it with manufacturer information, don’t try to claim it as USMCA/CUSMA compliant with a certification of origin.
Again, items entering the U.S. will not be subject to tariffs at this time so long as they are valued under US$800, no matter which country they are from.
But you do need to declare a country of origin. Couriers are reporting that entire trucks are being turned away at the border if packages are improperly documented. Check directly with your shipping provider or marketplace seller for more best practices.
No, the items themselves don’t need to be marked individually if they are older than 20 years old. However, the outermost package or container the items are being shipped in must be marked clearly and legibly with country of origin as part of the required import documentation.
Tariffs are applied to items that are entering the U.S. for consumption, meaning they are staying in the U.S. for consumers to use.
For example, a French shop is sending a secondhand item to a Canadian buyer and for logistics reasons, it's passing through the U.S. on its way to Canada.
The U.S. is not the final destination, so it doesn't get a tariff — but the parcel would need to have the proper documentation declaring it as transit cargo to indicate it is not remaining in the United States.
A certificate of authenticity is best. Or you’d have to be able to prove, if required, through maker's marks, written documents, research or records that the manufacturer of your item was located in North America.
You also have to prove if components were sourced from outside North America, that those materials would pass the rules of origin check in Annex 4-B of the USMCA agreement.
The certification of origin declaration for goods valued over US$2,500 is rigorous as it asks for certain manufacturer and origin information to be included.
For goods valued under US$2,500, you only need a written statement to certify origin. That's a declaration from you that the product is what you say it is. To write that statement, you would have to be 100 per cent certain that the item you’re sending originally was:
a) 100 per cent produced within North America using North American materials, or;
b) 100 per cent produced within North America using materials from outside North America, and still meet the entry requirements for those specific materials as stated under the USMCA agreement.
And you'd have to be able to prove it if asked.
For sellers, if you know the manufacturer and can do some research on how that manufacturer conducted their business, you may be able to provide enough information to satisfy the requirements.
If the value of your goods is under US$2,500 and you want to claim USMCA compliance, you don’t need a certification of origin but you do need a written statement to certify your good was made in Canada, U.S. or Mexico.
If the value of your goods is over US$2,500 and you want to claim USMCA compliance, you need to complete a certification of origin. You can search online to find a template for this, but there are no “official” forms you need.
The certification of origin has nine points of data that need to be included, including detailed reference to the USMCA/CUSMA agreement and how the good meets the rules of origin.
Visit the Canada Border Services Agency site to get all details — note that if you’re the reseller shipping the item into the U.S., you are considered the exporter, and your customer is the importer.
The producer is the manufacturer of the good, which you might not know — in which case you won’t be able to meet the USMCA compliance rules.
Ordering into the U.S.: If the item is valued at less than US$800, it currently doesn’t matter if it’s not USMCA-compliant. It meets the de minims exemption that is still in place and can arrive duty free.
If the item is valued over US$800 and is without certification of origin paperwork or a written statement certifying that the product was made in Canada, the U.S. or Mexico, it will be subject to a 25 per cent tariff paid by the importer (customer).
Ordering into Canada: If the item being shipped via courier is over CA$150 (or via mail, over CA$20), and on the list of goods receiving a surtax, it will receive a surtax of 25 per cent regardless of whether it’s CUSMA compliant.
Buyers: Remember that it can be difficult to prove origin when it comes to vintage, antiques and secondhand. If your seller sends an item over the ”de minimis” exemption that likely made in Canada, U.S. or Mexico but can't prove with certainty that’s where it was manufactured using approved materials, you may still have to pay the tariff.
Rulings are specific to the individual cases they pertain to and shouldn’t be used as precedent. If you are importing to the U.S. and would like to request a ruling, you can do that here.
Now is the time to revisit your sourcing strategies, your marketing tactics and your local networks.
In a Feb. 5 Instagram Live (linked below), we covered tariffs with vintage seller Sarah Israel, founder of Dwelling on the Past, and she shared some tips:
Go local. Join buy-and-sell groups or collectors' communities in your area.
Make connections. Host events with fellow sellers to expand your audience.
Optimize your online presence. Make sure your shop is easy to find. Update SEO-friendly descriptions, list shipping details clearly and highlight your location to attract regional buyers.
We have shared many more ideas on how to navigate this new era in our other tariff content below. Follow us on Instagram for timely updates.
The tariffs are expected to cost the average U.S. consumer an additional US$3,800 per year and the average Canadian consumer CA$1,900 per year.
For U.S.-based vintage sellers, the impact of Canada's retaliatory tariffs might not be felt as immensely, at least not immediately. The Canadian dollar is weak, which means sales to Canadian consumers are lower in general.
For Canadian secondhand shops, especially those operating online, the impact of the U.S. tariffs could be broader. Some Canadian e-commerce resellers we polled see up to 85 per cent of their clientele from the U.S.
Until Aug. 29, purchases entering the U.S. under US$800 with a country of origin of Canada or Mexico are not subject to tariffs. That's good news for both Canadian sellers and American consumers.
But for any American consumer ordering over US$800 from a Canadian seller, they may have to pay both normal duties, and the 25 per cent tariff if the item was originally manufactured in Canada or Mexico and that item is not considered USMCA/CUSMA-compliant (see above for how this works).
If the item is considered USMCA/CUSMA-compliant with a value over US$800, U.S. customers do not have to pay a tariff at this time.
And for any Canadian seller importing bulk shipments or large pieces from the U.S., they're subject to Canada's retaliatory tariffs and are seeing their costs raise, too.
As for local stores, the effects of tariffs vary.
It largely depends on where a local store sources its inventory from. For shops that source entirely locally, the impact of tariffs likely won't be felt until they possibly trickle down to the cost of other goods needed to run the business.
In other cases, there could be a trickle-down effect from the traditional retail market. In the case of the firsthand jewellery market, which is seeing tariffs applied to every raw material component and thus higher prices of finished goods, there could be subsequent higher prices in the secondhand market once those pieces are resold.
Some bricks-and-mortar vintage and thrift stores are seeing higher foot traffic and sales because shoppers can find affordable items there and are turning to shop locally.
But there are many other local storefronts that source internationally, and tariffs affect the cost of their goods depending on the value of what they are importing.
Tariff proponents argue these price increases will level out over time and ultimately create more jobs and demand domestically.
For a detailed picture of how the tariffs may affect individual Canadian sellers and any sellers that source in bulk or ship large volumes, watch our Mar. 3 interview with CityNews Toronto (below) and read the corresponding article.
Any shop, reseller or supplier that is buying or selling goods valued over US$800 into the U.S. may have their inventory subject to a tariff if that import is not USMCA/CUSMA compliant.
Many products in the vintage, antiques and secondhand category total over US$800, including luxury resale products, bulk bales of clothing, antique art and jewellery, vintage and antique furniture, wholesale buys and more.
Any shop, reseller or supplier that is shipping an item originally manufactured in China, Hong Kong or Macau at any value will also see a tariff applied, because de minimis now has tariff rates for those locations.
Shops, resellers or suppliers that are shipping goods from most countries (except China, Hong Kong and Macau) under US$800 into the U.S., or who are shipping goods valued under CA$150 (via courier) or CA$20 (via mail) into Canada will have their inventory exempt from tariffs until Aug. 29, after which point sales to the U.S. may decrease.
Remember, it's the consumer (the shopper, or the business that orders the item) that ultimately pays the tariff.
However, the tariffs will still impact everyone on a broader scale due to the effect tariffs have on our economy.
Bricks-and-mortar stores in border towns are also feeling the pinch as consumer boycotts dry up cross-border traffic. But storefronts in some cities, as well as large online marketplaces, are seeing a boost in traffic as local and domestic sales pick up.
For a deeper dive on this, watch our recent Instagram Live.
Depends on who you ask! The market is vast, and subsets within the sector are experiencing the effects of tariffs differently.
Vendors who sell across the border have largely reported a decrease in sales to The Vintage Seeker since the onset of the trade war.
That's true for border-town shops that relied on Canadian or American customers, e-commerce shops and wholesalers that ship or mail across the border, any American shops that import their vintage inventory from outside the U.S., and any Canadian shops that import their vintage inventory from the U.S.
The domestic vintage, antiques and secondhand scene could stand to benefit, however.
Shoppers are checking out local thrift stores and vintage shops to keep their dollars close to home, and to seek out lower prices compared to newly manufactured items that have been hit with tariffs. However, as demand rises, prices may rise in vintage, too.
Be wary of language that vintage, secondhand and resale items are "tariff-free", "exempt from tariffs" or not subject to tariffs. This can only be true if those shops source their products within their own country and the items are purchased within their own country.
While sourcing domestically makes a shop's inventory relatively insulated from tariffs, not every shop sources domestically. Many shops import inventory from elsewhere, or they ship to customers internationally, and in those cases, items are not tariff-exempt. Prices on shelves may be slightly higher than they used to be to account for higher cost of goods.
Canada, the U.S. and Mexico have a free trade agreement they signed in 2018 called USMCA in the U.S., CUSMA in Canada, and T-MEC in Mexico.
The agreement is not set to expire until 2036, though there is a planned review between all three countries scheduled for 2026.
Upon taking office in January, President Trump declared a national emergency on fentanyl that allowed him to circumvent the free trade agreement and apply tariffs. His reasoning for tariffs is they drive up production in one's own country and encourage domestic spending.
Then, the U.S. announced a 25 per cent tariff on all goods imported into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico would go into effect on Feb. 1. In response, Canada threatened to retaliate with its own 25 per cent tariff.
After reaching a temporary agreement, the countries agreed to pause their respective tariff measures for 30 days. That pause expired on Mar. 4.
The U.S. also initially imposed 10 to 15 per cent tariffs on goods originating from China (they shot up to 145 per cent as of Apr. 11, then cut back to 30 per cent for all large and small items arriving via courier or commercial carrier, and 54 per cent for small parcels valued under US$800 arriving via mai, as of May 12).
The China tariffs remain, and now they apply to all goods regardless of value, because the de minimis duty-free exemption was removed on May 2.
The trade war between the United States, Canada and Mexico officially began on Mar. 4, when the U.S. applied 25 per cent tariffs on goods valued over US$800 originating in Canada and Mexico.
The government stated its “de minimis” exemption — which allows goods valued under US$800 to enter the country duty free — would not be removed right away, allowing more time to acquire the personnel and infrastructure required to collect duties on lower-value shipments.
On Mar. 4, Canada enacted retaliatory tariffs, called a surtax, of 25 per cent on a suite of American goods valued at $30 billion, which includes secondhand staples like clothing, jewellery and glassware.
The Canadian surtax applies to goods that originate in the U.S., even when exported from a country other than the U.S. into Canada.
Just two days later, on Mar. 6, the U.S. offered some reprieve with its tariffs, indicating they would be paused through Apr. 2 so long as the goods in question were USMCA-compliant.
Canada was planning more tariffs on another $125 billion worth of retail goods, but on Mar. 6 paused the second set of tariffs and has not reinstated them.
There have been many back-and-forth-developments over the following months, but for the latest and most relevant, scroll to the top of this article.
Instagram Story Highlight on Tariffs — updated regularly
Vintage & Secondhand Tariff Cheat Sheet - May 13, 2025
Could Tariffs Help Secondhand Sellers? - Apr. 24, 2025
Catch the full discussion below or on YouTube (tariff update begins around the 51-minute mark).
Are Tariffs in Place for Buying & Selling Vintage & Secondhand? - Mar. 9, 2025
Catch the full discussion below or on YouTube.
Tariff Updates for Buying & Selling Vintage & Secondhand - Feb. 10, 2025
Catch the full conversation below or on YouTube (the tariffs conversation begins around the 30-minute mark).
Catch the full conversation below or on YouTube (the tariffs conversation begins around the 25-minute mark).
— With files from Suha Momand
How is the trade war affecting your buying and selling? Let us know in the comments!
