Sending to USA with UPS United States

[chicweb]

I'm doing it, guys. Taking the risk for the good of humanity (ok, maybe I'm over-exagerating, but hey.... I'll give it a shot).

I will let you know how it goes.

First it's a Magazine made in USA.

- 4902.90 = In USMCA. Should not be tariffed.

- Made in USA = Clearly stated in Magazine and in COO.

- Used UPS United States. Sent EDI by eBay Labels (No need of any paperworks attached)

- Valued at less than 2500$ US. (See below)

- I have contacted the buyer telling them there might have fees collected at the reception. (brokeage /tariff fees?). They accepted and understood.

I will update this thread to tell you how it goes. Will go bring it to the UPS store tomorrow to make sure it is going to pass the border after the 29 of August. It's a test, and I don't care paying any fees if there's a problem. I want to see how it goes.

As per the 2500$ USD, here is the explanation

https://www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/USMCA/FAQs

Are there exceptions to USMCA’s certification of origin requirement?
A certification of origin is not required for: (1) a non-commercial importation of a good, or (2) a commercial importation for which the value of the originating goods does not exceed US $2,500, provided the importation does not form part of a series of importations that may be considered to have been undertaken or arranged for purposes of evading United States laws, regulations, or procedures governing claims for preferential treatment. Note that even if the value of non-originating goods is less than US $2,500, a written statement certifying that the goods originate may still be required. Further, if CBP determines that an importation is part of a series of importations carried out or planned for purposes of evading compliance with preference requirements, the importer may be required to submit a certification of origin.

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

If I recall, it will usually show on the UPS tracking page if a payment is owed and/or made. That is one way that you might be able to verify. 

[chicweb]

I checked, I see no Brokerage events except "The package is at the clearing agency awaiting final release." before going through the border.

[biglittleape]

I sent a package yesterday valued $30, it was charged $15 government charge and $5 UPS brokerage.

[movie_galaxy]

I use Netparcel and buy a label by selecting UPS Standard.

So far, 2 orders sent to the USA with no customs charges or tariffs applied.

I might get an invoice in the mail in the future IDK or maybe Netparcel will charge my account at some point IDK, but for now, seems to be OK as long as the item is less than $20 USD and it falls under the CUSMA aggreement.

Of note, I didn't put an invoice attached to the outside of the envelope because I already electronically filled in the country of origin and price and HS code. And more importantly, although I know the item was manufacturered in the USA, I don't know the manufacturer's address and phone number, so I couldn't put it in even if I wanted to.

Even if you follow ALL THE RULES, if the US customs (or any other customs agency) wants to flag your item, they will find a reason to do so. I understand the desire to comply, but you have to understand that no matter how much you comply, they will always develop new rules to push you out of complience. My point is that while you should try to comply, if you can't find the manufacturer's information, you shouldn't tear yourself apart with guilt. Just send the package anyways even if it's not 100% perfectly in compliance.

Again, I am not saying to ignore the rules. Try your best and send the package because if you send nothing, you will definitely lose.

[chicweb]

Just got news from the buyer. No fees were requested by UPS at all.

My next step: Waiting for the label to be charged in my ebay account. I will then post if there's any extra (hidden?) fees for me on this order.

Please note that my item was a magazine made in USA. When I will get the final charge on my account, I will make a summary.

[artofadornment]

@chicweb thank you so much for starting this thread and detailing this for all of us! I have some news to add that so far may inspire some hope. All are items I've made here in Canada, I've opted to be billed for any customs fees, all have certificates of origin on outside of parcels, all shipped via NetParcel.

1 parcel via Purolator Ground (they hand off to UPS at the border BTW) - delivered Aug. 29,  already invoiced by NetParcel, no duty fees.

1 parcel via UPS Worldwide Expedited - delivered Sep 3, not yet invoiced by NetParcel, but no indication via tracking of any extra charges yet.

2 parcels via Purolator due to be delivered tomorrow. 8 more in transit (including 1 by UPS Standard) that have all cleared customs already, no sign of charges yet on any of them. I just shipped 2 more last night that are valued between $40-$80 CAD, the rest have all been around $20-$30 CAD.

Fingers and toes crossed...

[nhl_automotive]

How much was the magazine and did you ship it in an envelope or box? 

[chicweb]

Magazine was around 25$ (old magazine from the '70s), packaged in a rigid envelop with cardboard for protection and making sure it would not get plied in the process.

The packaging should not make any differences for custom. The price of the item is important only if tariff/duties must be paid. In this case, none was requested to the customer.

No certificate of origin was attached. I will see when I will be charged if the brokerage fee will be taken from my account or simply not charged at all. Magazine (4902.90.00) was Made in USA bought using eBay label. 

Note that for Medias (Magazines, CDs, DVDs, etc), it seem there's exceptions for tariffs/Duties. That might have played, in this situation.

[nhl_automotive]

I'm slightly surprised UPS didn't try to get their cut with a small brokerage fee. I was under the asumption that was automatic, regardless of tariffs. Hopefully we can hear some more stories from sellers. Right now it seems like a circus on the UPS reddit with all the horror stories of exorbitant fees, some of the items coming from Canada.

[chicweb]

My guess is that I will be charged with a minimum of 10$ brokerage fee when they will charge me. But let's wait and see. 😉

[movie_galaxy]

Here is a link to UPS declaration form

https://www.ups.com/assets/resources/media/ups-cusma-fillable-form-ca.pdf

For the Origin Criterion (Section 7) on the first page, refer to the following link and pages 4-4 and 4-5 under the heading Article 4.2 Originating Goods.

https://www.international.gc.ca/trade-commerce/assets/pdfs/agreements-accords/cusma-aceum/r-cusma-04...

You have to declare - under Origin Criterion - where your item was produced. For example:

A) Items made in North America with North American parts - use Letter 'A'

B) Items made in North America with some foreign parts - use Letter 'B'

C) Items made in North America with all foreign parts - use Letter 'C'

D) Items that don't fall under the previous 3 categories - use Letter 'D'

I am not an import lawyer, so I am just giving you my unqualified, unexpert, layman understanding. You have to do your own research of course to make sure you are doing it correctly. 

[movie_galaxy]

When you send your digital media to the USA, do you currently put the CUSMA declaration form attached to your package? I am just wondering if you don't, are your packages recently getting held up at the border?

[artofadornment]

A really good layman's guide here, with examples to explain all the official jargon: 

https://commongoods.ca/pages/how-to-avoid-tariffs-from-canada-to-the-u-s-guide-to-cusma-usmca-agreem...

[chicweb]

The label has been charged to my account. At the moment, no extra fees. It's the exact amount I paid for the label.

I will still wait a bit before confirming that this a successful test. Sometime, more fees comes later down the road.

[movie_galaxy]

My UPS package is being held at customs for inspection. Could be a normal inspection that happens from time to time or could be more. So far, it has been held for 3 days.

[mrdutch1001]

someone please correct and/or verify whether or not Canadian shipments to the USA via UPS are being corralled and that UPS is halting CUSMA shipments due to issues with processing/billing...

[artofadornment]

Two shipments arrived yesterday via Purolator Ground. Each spent 4 days at customs. One has already been invoiced so I'm assuming no extra fees are coming, the other hasn't been invoiced just yet. Maybe tomorrow.

One via UPS Standard, cost about CAD $12.50 via NetParcel, 3 days at customs, delivered today (hopefully I'll be able to test this with Ebay shipping soon as well). No sign of extra fees being charged yet - I'm mainly curious if the new $10 flat broker fee for this service is going to be added on... it looks like Ebay may be automatically including it(?) with since shipping cost is around CAD $22. Will update ASAP.

[movie_galaxy]

My package was released after being held up for 3 days - looks like everything is OK now.

Will keep you posted if anything negative occurs.

[chicweb]

Bad news. The customer now tell me they received a bill by mail by UPS for brokerage fees of 10$USD, which I think is the minimum charged by UPS.

So, it seem UPS will not be a good option at all for us. We don't want our customers to receive fees days later by mail. I suggest other sellers to be very careful using it.

[sapphyres-designer-jewellery]

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@chicweb wrote:

Bad news. The customer now tell me they received a bill by mail by UPS for brokerage fees of 10$USD, which I think is the minimum charged by UPS.

So, it seem UPS will not be a good option at all for us. We don't want our customers to receive fees days later by mail. I suggest other sellers to be very careful using it.

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Be happy it's only $10, but as a buyer I think I'd be pretty upset at this if I thought there was a way I could get my items without paying tariffs. (Not saying the buyer is right to be upset, just that's their point of view).

C.