De minimis exemption for shipments going IN to the United States

As of August 29^th, 2025, shipments going into the US with a customs value of under $800 will be subject to duties and taxes, in the past these shipments were exempt. 

Duties and taxes are assessed based on declared value, country of origin and the Harmonized System (HS) code.

It is critically important to ensure that this information is correct in customs documents. 

Declared Value

The value the shipper declares on the commercial invoices is used to determine the duties and taxes so it must be accurate

Country of Origin

The country where the goods were manufactured is crucial as it dictates the duty rate that will be applied

Product Classification (HS code)

The Harmonized System is a universal product code that identifies the specific product, enabling US customs to find the correct duty rate for entry into the US. 

NOTE – As of March 7^th, 2025, tariffs have been paused for goods that qualify for duty free preferential treatment under CUSMA where the country of origin is Canada.  To claim this exemption, you must include a Certification of Origin to be completed by the exporter, producer or importer.  The University Customs Officer can assist in preparing this document where needed. 

It is very difficult to determine the amount of tariffs or duties that will be assessed for a specific product or group of products. 

If you have questions or require further information, contact purchasing.helpdesk@uoguelph.ca

DHL Additional Surcharge

Between Oct 1^st, 2025, and Feb 16^th, 2026 DHL Express will be adding a Demand Surcharge to all shipments, both incoming and outgoing.  This arbitrary surcharge will be in place during their peak demand times. 

We highly encourage both shippers and receivers to use another shipping and logistics provider during the stated dates to avoid this unnecessary additional cost. 

If you have questions, contact purchasing.helpdesk@uoguelph.ca