Tariffs: A Cautionary Tale

steve B · #1 03-24-2025, 10:13 AM

Red highlight mine

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kawika

That is correct. Effective March 4, 2025, certain goods imported into Canada and originating in the U.S. are subject to a surtax in the amount of 25% of the value for duty in accordance with the United States Surtax Order (2025-1). The surtax will apply to goods imported for commercial and personal purposes, even when exported from a country other than the U.S. into Canada, and including those that may be eligible for the remission of customs duties, sales and/or excise taxes under the Courier Imports Remission Order (de minimis). Would you like us to start the return of the package?

So they're adding 25% to everything no matter where it comes from?
That seems a bit overboard, and maybe not the government but the agent.

Would it apply to Canadian goods like OPC cards being "repatriated" (something I used on a customs form years ago sending an item back to it's country of origin. The guy I traded with did the same )

BillyCoxDodgers3B · #2 03-24-2025, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve B

Would it apply to Canadian goods like OPC cards being "repatriated" (something I used on a customs form years ago sending an item back to it's country of origin. The guy I traded with did the same )

Oh, I like that! Yep, returning to country of origin. They have no leg to stand on! It's their own rule. Just wish there was more cause to employ such a wonderful loophole.

BioCRN · #3 03-24-2025, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve B

So they're adding 25% to everything no matter where it comes from?
That seems a bit overboard, and maybe not the government but the agent.

Some exporters will export to a non-tariff country before going into a destination country to escape the tariff.

Vietnam tends to get a lot of China export business when tariffs on them hit if it's not explicit that the tariffs cover the actual source country before funneled through a "3rd party country."

JamesGallo · #4 03-24-2025, 01:13 PM

I have been buying comics from a buddy in Canada for 10+ years they are all foreign to both countries mostly from Europe. I got an order a couple weeks ago with no issues, but I was concerned.

James G

samosa4u · #5 03-24-2025, 11:35 PM

Most Canadians only want hockey cards and most hockey cards were made in Canada! So, these are exempt from tariffs.

ALR-bishop · #6 03-25-2025, 08:52 AM

I assume a lot of Canadians would also like to get the Stanley Cup
back in Canada 😊. Hopefully tariffs would not apply

Exhibitman · #7 03-25-2025, 09:22 AM

samosa4u · #8 03-25-2025, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

I assume a lot of Canadians would also like to get the Stanley Cup
back in Canada 😊. Hopefully tariffs would not apply

We would be willing to pay the tariff on the Stanley Cup because we haven't won one since 1993!

Huysmans · #9 03-25-2025, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

I assume a lot of Canadians would also like to get the Stanley Cup
back in Canada 😊. Hopefully tariffs would not apply

North America's oldest, greatest and most famous trophy is always in Canada - locked in a vault in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
You didn't think we would trust you rascally American foreigners to handle the original Cup, did you??

Kawika · #10 03-25-2025, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve B

So they're adding 25% to everything no matter where it comes from?
That seems a bit overboard, and maybe not the government but the agent.

That is pretty much the gist of my question, as of yet unanswered by the Fed Ex broker. I had a look at the United States Surtax Order (2025-1) he cited, hoping to learn what is subject to the tariff and what is not, but came away no wiser. At the present time I do not know if all eBay items, Amazon purchases, AH winnings etc will be accompanied by another fat hand in my wallet.

I requested that he forward my cards to a friend in the States who can hold onto them until the trade war is over. "Smuggling" is not an option at this point. I am up to my eyeballs in pilikia already. Don't need any more grief.

Speaking of the Stanley Cup, there's a bit of hoopla right now in Victoria BC where I live. On March 30, 1925 the Victoria Cougars beat the Montreal Canadiens in a best-of-five series at Patrick Arena which stood less than a mile from our house. The Cup will be brought back this weekend and various festivities are planned. Looking forward to seeing the hardware.

Commemorative cairn at Oak Bay High School across the street from where Patrick Arena once stood

1925 team postcard

edjs · #11 03-26-2025, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kawika

That is pretty much the gist of my question, as of yet unanswered by the Fed Ex broker. I had a look at the United States Surtax Order (2025-1) he cited, hoping to learn what is subject to the tariff and what is not, but came away no wiser. At the present time I do not know if all eBay items, Amazon purchases, AH winnings etc will be accompanied by another fat hand in my wallet.

I requested that he forward my cards to a friend in the States who can hold onto them until the trade war is over. "Smuggling" is not an option at this point. I am up to my eyeballs in pilikia already. Don't need any more grief.

Speaking of the Stanley Cup, there's a bit of hoopla right now in Victoria BC where I live. On March 30, 1925 the Victoria Cougars beat the Montreal Canadiens in a best-of-five series at Patrick Arena which stood less than a mile from our house. The Cup will be brought back this weekend and various festivities are planned. Looking forward to seeing the hardware.

Commemorative cairn at Oak Bay High School across the street from where Patrick Arena once stood

1925 team postcard

Kris Draper�s kid pooped in it, so don�t kiss it. Which is a nice segue, since they later became the Red Wings.

Balticfox · #12 03-27-2025, 03:31 PM

I'm hearing some nightmarish stories from other Canadian collectors. A posting buddy/trading partner just "won" some cards in an online auction for U.S.$61.00 which would have worked out to about Cdn.$87.37 at an exchange rate of 1.43225. GST of 13% would have added Cdn.$11.36. A 25% tariff added Cdn.$21.84 for a total of $33.20 in government charges. Meanwhile FedEx charged him a customs brokerage fee of $35.07 to collect that $33.20. So my buddy was left battered and bleeding.

Here's another account:

Quote:

Originally Posted by gadesja

My bill from Tom was $235.82US including $24 for shipping. Not unreasonable. However once Customs got involved I was dinged for another $153.33CA!! So my total was over $500CA.

So I'm afraid, very afraid, of the charges I'll see on three packages I'm now awaiting from the States.

Exhibitman · #13 03-27-2025, 04:06 PM

Maybe vault expensive graded stuff in the USA until this BS is over?

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