Ok, let's talk a bit about tariffs

[Lorien]

In two days time, the US governments' de minimis limit will be revoked entirely, leaving the potential for a 35% tax to be levied against anyone in the US who wants to buy my work valued at $800 or less.

Fortunately, through CUSMA, the things which I produce will not be taxed when received through US Customs. There is a lot of red tape and bureaucracy that I will be contending with in order to ensure tax exemption that I will need to wade through before I'm able to resume business as usual.

So, for the time being, I unfortunately will not be shipping to the US. Once I have a chance to digest and prepare for the onerous paperwork required by US Customs, I'll be able to resume selling my work into the USA.

CUSMA will be up for renegotiation July 2026. It could be that the agreement will change substantially at that time, so it's hard to say what's gonna happen. Additionally, there is always a possibility that CUSMA will be unilaterally terminated, but that's not something to worry about much unless it happens.

Cheers.

 

[Lorien]

here is a link that might be helpful to any Canadian makers who stumble across this thread, that rely on sales to the USA;

Step-by-step guide to CUSMA compliance - Tradecommissioner.gc.ca

www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca

 

[Lorien]

I'm working though dealing with shipping to the USA, and from here into the foreseeable future, I'll be using Fedex to get your order to you. Just opened an account today.

Pretty confident- with the help of good guy David Mary - that I have everything I need to ensure that my customers aren't on the hook for the 35% import tax charged to items not covered by CUSMA.

 

[David Mary]

Happy to be of service.

 

[Lorien]

So....
I've been hearing and reading about a lot of things related to shipping into the USA. None are positive, I'm afraid.

There may be a time when things normalize, when we can depend on US customs to honour the free trade laws between the US and Canada, when shipping is timely and smooth and packages don't get disappeared, but now is not that time.

Anyone who has contacted me regarding an order for a sheath, well I'm sorry, but I cannot fulfill any of those obligations at this point in time.

I have a list of special orders, and I'll keep it until/if things even out.

It's just too risky right now to send my work into the US. It sucks, and in my opinion, everything about what is going on as it relates to Canada/US trade is wrong and bad.

Since close to 100% of my clientele is American, this situation is going to fundamentally change the model I've developed for selling my knives and sheaths.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but it will likely involve travelling to knife and gun shows in Canada at some point within the next couple of years. The best option I can think of for my American brothers who want my work is to make the journey north for a knife show , and return home with your Loriendesign'd steel and/or leather.

Time to go old school, I guess.

Peace and Love!