Effective August 29, 2025, the United States eliminated its $800 de minimis exemption. This means that all shipments from Canada to the U.S. may now be subject to tariffs and brokerage fees, regardless of value.
If these aren’t prepaid (DDP), carriers will charge buyers directly on delivery, leading to surprise fees and a higher risk of returns. To prevent this, SidelineSwap now requires Canadian sellers to purchase their own shipping labels that allow duties and taxes to be paid up front.
Setting Your Shipping Price
- When you list items, you’ll need to set shipping rates for both Canadian and U.S. buyers.
- For U.S. buyers, we strongly recommend including the estimated tariff cost in your shipping price so the buyer pays the full cost at checkout, with no unexpected fees later.
Choosing Your Shipping Label
Supported Carriers
- Chit Chats: Works with USPS and can provide lower-cost cross-border shipping. Chit Chats handles clearance and forwards the package into the USPS network. With Chit Chats, you can ship USMCA-qualifying items tariff free. All shipments must be delivered Delivery Duty Paid (DDP).
- FedEx: Allows sellers to create Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) labels directly. FedEx’s brokerage team manages customs clearance, but tariff amounts are still set by U.S. Customs. With FedEx, you can ship USMCA-qualifying items tariff free.
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Purolator: Broad Canadian coverage with U.S. delivery through Purolator International; usually pricier than ChitChats or Canada Post.
- Carriers that do not allow you to prepay duties/taxes are not supported on SidelineSwap
- If your preferred carrier isn’t available, contact our support team.
Adding Your Shipping Label to Your Sale
- After your item sells, update your shipment by clicking “Update Label” > “Use Your Own Label” or by clicking “Add Tracking Number” on your swap page.
- Enter the tracking number and carrier information.
- You will be credited 88% of your set shipping cost when the sale is completed.
Customs and Tariffs Reminder
- Items made in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico: usually qualify for tariff-free treatment under USMCA when proper documentation is provided.
- Items made elsewhere (e.g., China, Europe) may face tariffs for U.S. buyers.
- Always ensure the Country of Manufacture field is accurate in your listings.
Next Steps
- Use Canada Post with Zonos or another supported carrier (Chit Chats or FedEx) that allows duties to be prepaid.
- Build expected duty costs into your U.S. shipping price.
- Keep your listings updated with the correct Country of Manufacture.
- Contact our support team if you need help or if your carrier isn’t supported.