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UPDATED JULY 16 - Navigating Evolving Global Tariff Policies
Hello Etsy Community,
My name is James Ossman, and for the past year, I've had the privilege of serving as Vice President and General Manager for International at Etsy.
I'm reaching out because like many of you, we are closely monitoring the latest developments regarding tariffs placed on goods that pass between the United States and Canada, China and Mexico. At this time, our teams are reviewing the official information coming in from the different governments and assessing what this means for the Etsy community. We will provide updates here as they are available.
As always, we are committed to helping you comply with applicable regulations. Thank you for your patience as we work through these emerging changes.
James Ossman, Vice President and General Manager, International at Etsy
Admin
jamesossman
Hi there,
We’re writing to let you know about upcoming tariff changes that may affect sellers shipping orders to the US, especially when using national postal carriers.
What’s changing
Right now, tariffs on packages sent to the US are calculated differently depending on the shipping service. Starting July 24, shipments sent through national postal services will be calculated more like courier shipments, which are sent through private or express shipping companies.
That means tariff rates may vary based on the type of item you're shipping, not just the country of origin.
For many shops, that means the tariff amount may change, with potentially different percentage rates for different types of products. In some cases, costs may increase. Carriers are expected to start applying the new rates a few days before July 24, likely around July 21.
To prepare, we recommend taking these steps:
Use the tariffs estimator in Shop Manager to review current courier estimates for items you ship to the US. Since postal rates will soon be calculated more like courier rates, current courier estimates can help you prepare before updated postal rates appear in the estimator on July 21.
Based on the estimated courier rates, review and adjust your US-specific listing prices before July 21 so you're ready before carriers are expected to start collecting the updated rates.
Check the tariffs estimator again on July 21, when updated postal estimates are expected to be finalized.
Review your item details and update any HS codes that may be inaccurate. Accurate HS codes are especially important because tariff rates may vary by item type.
We know changing trade requirements can be difficult to navigate. We’ll continue sharing updates as more information becomes available.
For more information on tariffs, pricing strategies, and shipping options, visit our guide in the Seller Handbook.
jamesossman
Hi everyone,
I wanted to flag an important update for sellers shipping orders to the US.
Starting July 9, you'll be expected to account for all of your costs, including duties and import fees, to US buyers upfront in your pricing by using a Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) shipping option, so they pay the full cost of their order at checkout. Orders shipped without duties prepaid will no longer qualify for Etsy Purchase Protection. If buyers are charged tariffs or collection fees by the carrier, they’re eligible to be refunded and the charges will be deducted from the seller.
Read the full update here for more information →
jamesossman
Hi everyone,
As tariff policies continue to evolve, we know it’s been challenging to anticipate tariff costs and factor them into your pricing when selling to the US.
We’ve heard from many of you that having more tools and resources from Etsy would help, so we’ve integrated a tariffs estimator directly in Shop Manager to help simplify selling to the US.
If you’re based outside the US and ship to US buyers, you can use the tariffs estimator when creating or editing your listings to:
Estimate US tariff costs for your items
Compare postal and courier estimates side by side
Review potential item descriptions and HS codes
It’s a simple resource to estimate how tariffs might affect your pricing strategy.
A few things to know:
Estimates are a guideline, not a guarantee.
Results are based on information you provide.
Final costs depend on customs and your carrier.
The tool is currently available on desktop.
It’s available for physical (non-digital) listings only.
For a full walkthrough, including information on how to factor tariffs into your pricing and guidance on shipping and DDP options, check out this Seller Handbook article.
We’ll keep sharing updates here as new tools and resources become available, and we’re also exploring ways to make tariffs clearer for buyers, including testing more transparent pricing in the shopping experience.
Thanks, everyone.
jamesossman
Hi everyone,
As US tariff policies continue to evolve, we know there may be questions about refund eligibility.
In most cases, tariff refunds are handled by carriers, so you’ll need to contact the shipping carrier that managed your orders to understand requirements and next steps.
We’ve updated the Seller Handbook with more details and resources. We will continue to share updates as they become available.
Thank you!
jamesossman
Hi everyone,
You may have seen that today the US Supreme Court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) doesn’t authorize the president to impose certain tariffs, raising numerous questions about the future of the tariffs imposed on goods entering the United States over the last year.
We want to reassure you that our team is actively monitoring this development and assessing what it may mean for Etsy sellers. We will get back to you as soon as we have clarity on next steps.
In the meantime, you can continue to use Zonos’ tariff calculator, which can help you understand potential rate changes.
For more context on tariff policies generally and how they can affect your shop, please see our Seller Handbook article: Navigating Evolving Global Tariff Policies.
We recognize how difficult it has been to navigate the tariff landscape recently, especially for shops that ship internationally and manage cross-border costs. We will keep you updated with relevant information as it becomes available. Talk soon.
jamesossman
Hi all,
As global trade has evolved, our team has been focused on identifying and building solutions that can help you navigate these changes. We know that for sellers shipping into the United States, managing your pricing has become more complex.
Over the last week, we’ve rolled out the ability to set specific prices for US buyers on new and existing listings. When paired with Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) shipping – which lets you to pre-pay tariffs – setting up US-specific pricing allows you to:
Account for tariff costs up front to avoid surprise costs and customer support issues upon delivery
Keep shipping costs as low as possible, which our data says can help improve sales
Keep your prices competitive globally by setting separate prices for sales outside the US
You can find step-by-step directions for setting US-specific prices in our Help Center.
It is still our strong recommendation that you seek out carriers who offer DDP shipping so you can calculate and pre-pay tariffs, and avoid surprising your buyers with unexpected fees and delivery headaches.
We’ve updated our Seller Handbook article with the latest information, and will continue to keep you updated as solutions and new guidance become available in the coming weeks.
jamesossman
Hi all, As you know, since earlier this year there have been numerous updates to global shipping and trade policy. On August 29, another key update will take effect: there will no longer be a de minimis exemption for goods entering the United States. This means that all items shipped to the US - regardless of item value - may now be subject to tariffs.
Shipping options are changing as global carriers work to adapt to this change. In the meantime, postal services may be delayed or suspended.
To help you navigate these changes, we updated the Seller Handbook with our latest guidance for facilitating cross-border shipments with minimal disruption. At this time, we strongly suggest sellers shipping into the U.S. seek out carriers with a DDP option, which allows you to pre-pay tariffs, duties, taxes and other import fees when you purchase your shipping labels. This way, you can provide your buyers pricing that is inclusive of any new fees, creating a more transparent shopping experience and eliminating the risk of buyers refusing to pay tariffs after their shipment arrives. You can find a list of DDP carriers HERE.
We’ve also added pricing guidance, as well as a free tariffs calculator from Zonos to help you calculate these new fees.
More information on all of this can be found in the Seller Handbook, which we will continue to keep updated as the industry adjusts to these changes and new guidance is available. We understand that changes like this can feel disruptive, and we are here to help.
jamesossman
Hi all - After a few months, I am back with another update on the state of global trade. We are closely tracking the US Administration’s announcement regarding the suspension of the de minimis exemption. Our team is working diligently to understand the impact of this change to our community, and we will come back to you in the coming days with more specific guidance for managing shipping, communicating with buyers, and ensuring a seamless customer experience as tariffs evolve.
We understand that this development impacts how many of you will handle sales into the US, and we are here to help you manage through this change.
A reminder to keep an eye on the Seller Handbook for the latest updates, including advice for understanding Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) options, which would allow you to pay tariffs and duties in advance for a better buyer experience.
More from us soon.
jamesossman
Hi all,
The Etsy team continues to track the latest updates on tariffs impacting trade between the United States and many other countries around the world. It still remains the case that de minimis exemptions are in place for goods entering the US, with the exception of items originating from China and Hong Kong, effective May 2. This means the vast majority of Etsy packages entering the US are not currently impacted.
We have updated the Seller Handbook to include more considerations and tips for selecting a carrier, communicating with buyers, and pricing your items. We hope you find this helpful. The Seller Handbook will remain our source of truth for sharing updates as this situation evolves.
jamesossman
Hi all - We know there is a lot of news to take in as countries around the world change their tariff and de minimis structures. We also know that many of you are following the new tariffs announced by the United States this week especially closely. We have updated the Seller Handbook to reflect the latest.
It’s important to know that as of the US announcement on April 2, de minimis exemptions are in place for goods entering the US, with the exception of items originating from China and Hong Kong, effective May 2. This means the vast majority of Etsy packages entering the US are not currently impacted.
As has been the case, these regulations are evolving quickly and changes are expected in the coming weeks. We will continue to share updated information in the Seller Handbook, as well as tips for running your business as tariffs evolve.
jamesossman
Hi all - Our team is hard at work reviewing and analyzing the tariffs announced by the United States today. We will provide an update to the Seller Handbook in the coming days. Stay tuned.
jamesossman
Hi all - Tariffs regulations continue to evolve, and many updates are nuanced and/or impact only certain categories of goods. To make it easier to stay informed, we updated the Seller Handbook to include government resources where you can track the latest news from official sources - including the latest on tariffs between the United States and the European Union.
We’ll continue to share major updates through the Seller Handbook, particularly changes to de minimis thresholds.
Have a great weekend!
jamesossman
Hi all - I imagine that you, like us, are feeling some whiplash as we navigate the ever-changing news about tariffs together. We’re working hard to stay on top of the latest developments between the US and Canada, China and Mexico.
We have updated our Seller Handbook based on the information available today. The most important thing to know is that de minimis exemptions remain, which means the vast majority of Etsy orders can currently enter the United States duty-free. We will continue to provide updates as they become available.
jamesossman
Hi all – As you may know, tariffs on goods imported to the U.S. from Canada and Mexico went into effect today. These tariffs currently allow for de minimis exemptions, which means that the vast majority of Etsy orders can currently enter the United States duty-free because they fall below the $800 value threshold.
This situation is evolving, and we expect changes in the coming days and weeks. For example, China, Canada and Mexico have all signaled their intent to implement tariffs on some goods from the United States.
To help you navigate these changes, we have compiled a guide in the Seller Handbook. This will be updated as information is received from government agencies.
Thank you for being part of our global community.
jamesossman
Update on tariffs impacting the United States, Canada and Mexico
Hi all - As a quick update, implementation of tariffs on trade between the United States and Canada and Mexico has been paused for at least 30 days. We are continuing to monitor the situation and determine how we can best support our community, and we will share any relevant updates here as they are available.