This page is a living resource for fellow Canadian small businesses and makers who ship to the U.S. We’ve gathered links, guides, and insights that have been shared in our community conversations. If you have questions, or if there’s something you’d like added here, please post a comment. Last updated: Sept 9, 2025   Helpful Links & Resources   HS Codes & Tariffs TariffGuide.ai HS Code Finder (Zonos) HS Code Lookup (U.S. government official) Shipping & DDP Canada Post Instructions below on this page CP Business Accounts: Not yet integrated with Shopify/Shipstation for printing DDP labels (as of Sep 1 they're estimating ShipStation will be ready in 2-3 weeks) You can print DDP labels from Shopify using Shopify CP rates, if you disconnect your CP account from Shopify. Note: People can't reconnect it afterwards, so only do it if you're really sure, because you won't benefit from negotiated rates anywhere else in the world. $1.99CAD processing fee (included in label cost) Duties & charges billed to sender via Zonos 3rd party DDP only Not accepting CUSMA certificates Stallion Express Integrates with Shopify Brokerage fee of $0.99–$1.99 per package Accept CUSMA certificates Not available in all provinces & require drop-off DDP via USPS and DDU via UPS For DDP, you have to submit your items for HS classification approval first ChitChats Merchandise processing fee $1.35USD/shipment + $0.15USD/unique HS code Accept CUSMA certificates Pickup only available via 3rd party like CanPar (can set up within app) Can't print Canada Post DDP labels DDP only with their own carrier Have been having issues with trucks being turned away recently EasyShip $39CAD/month subscription (offer free trial to try it) Integrates with Shopify Offers DDP + DDU Allows integration of your own courier accounts Has reasonable rates for FedEx International Connect Plus for DDP DHL Integrated with Shopify for label printing Offers DDP + DDU Expensive shipping & processing fees (flat fee of $10+ per shipment + % of duties + per line item fees) UPS Not integrated with Shopify for label printing Offers DDP + DDU Can print DDP labels in ShipStation Can get reasonable shipping rates if call & hustle, but brokerage expensive Purolator Integrated with Shopify for label printing, but not for DDP labels Offers DDP + DDU (DDP have to print from their website) Don't know much about it, looks pricey. Anyone have experience? FedEx Much better than DHL/UPS both shipping & fees International Connect the best option Offers DDP + DDU Not integrated with Shopify label printing (not available to Canadian shops) DDP labels can be printed from FedEx dashboard or from ShipStation Can connect to Shopify so your orders automatically go to FedEx dashboard via FedEx Shopify app. Note FedEx are waiving their brokerage fees for parcels under $800USD until September 22nd (only applies if your items don't require any special paperwork like CUSMA or TSCA or any other certificates) Brokerage rates: $10 for orders under $200, $20 for orders over $200 They are returning a lot of parcels due to inability to store them in their warehouse space. We shipped 2 parcels Aug 29th and by Sep 11, neither have cleared customs (no CUSMA or anything). One is being returned :( OrderCup Integrated with Shopify and Canada Post DDP Allows input of Zonos account key to process duty collection Benefit over standard Shopify+Canada Post solution is much better shipping rates $69.99USD/month for 3000 orders, 30-day free trial ClickShip Offers DDP Have preferred rates with FedEx Accept CUSMA certificate with every shipment No monthly fee Example rate - $25CAD for a 0.12kg package includes brokerage fees (should be noted this parcel was shipped before Sept 22nd) Shopify Duties Collection at Checkout How to enable duties collection at checkout - Note these rates are calculated by a 3rd party Avalara and aren't 100% accurate. The final costs will only be determined by U.S. customs when the parcel crosses the border. These pre-calculated estimates don't account for additional brokerage/processing fees. It's now available for all Shopify plans. It only can read 6 digit HS Codes…. which is HUGE because US uses 10 digit codes to classify. As an example, within Women’s pants code, the duties (base, MFN) vary from 6 - 32%. It apparently charges the lowest rate. So, pants which are MFN 28.2% were charging at 6%. It can’t add the IEEPA 35% Trump Tariff because it claims it’s using the postal system who’s using flat rate, so it charges neither You can put 10 digit HTSUS codes in shopify, it just doesn’t use them It encourages you to embed duties into sale prices but presumably those would be wrong too It takes 0.5% of sales checked out because Avalara is apparently powering the duty engine CUSMA CBSA CUSMA guide How to complete CUSMA certification in ChitChats Example Certificate of Origin with instructions from CBSA CUSMA certificate form FedEx Ship Canada Post DDP Step by Step You can create duties prepaid labels from Canada Post Shipping Manager. Canada Post is only accepting U.S.-bound parcels if the duties are paid by the seller (DDP). They integrated with Zonos who will be collecting the duties from sellers by automatic billing to the credit card on file. As long as you're shipping with Canada Post to the U.S. and sign up for Zonos with the link below, you don't have to pay their $2500-$4000/yr subscription fees. So far, the integration only works if you manually create shipments in Canada Post website. We haven't been able to get Shopify label printing to work yet (if you have please share in comments!) Create Account with Zonos here From the dashboard, click Settings > Billing and add a credit card Log in to your Canada Post business account (create if you don't have one) Back in the Zonos dashboard, copy the Account Key to clipboard (Settings > Account Key) Click here to link it by pasting it in your Canada Post account preferences (Thanks Max @lesgarcons.boutique for helping me find this!) Create a shipment, input shipping address & package details. Select automatic billing by Zonos. Be sure to add a description, HS code and country of origin. If you're not sure what your HS code is, try one of the links at the bottom of this page. Print your label   Community Support Add your listing to the Support Canadian Makers page share Detailed summary of the situation to help explain to customers Add your IG handle in the comments if you'd like to be added to the Canadian Makers IG group chat International Expansion Yonda Tax Fully Managed Global Service Expert support: You're allocated a personal account manager who will be responsible for all parts of the process. (registration & setup, filing returns and communication with all tax offices). They essentially work as an extension of your team dealing with all your indirect taxes. Tax setup at checkout: We configure your ecommerce site / billing system to collect the correct amount of tax at checkout based on the jurisdiction the customer is based. Monthly automation: Yonda connects to your ecommerce site / billing system to import your sales data, enabling efficient, automated and accurate filing. Tax payments: After we file the returns for you, we will provide you with the payment instructions via email for VAT/GST jurisdictions and for sales tax we give the state your ACH number. Jurisdiction based pricing structure (USD)   Registration fees (once off, upfront) UK VAT - 350 IOSS VAT - 400 AUS GST - 300 US Sales Tax - $50 per nexus state Monthly filing and support fee (fixed fee, charged monthly regardless of filing periodicity) Platform fee - $100 UK VAT - 100 IOSS VAT - 180 AUS GST - 150 US Sales Tax - $30 per nexus state

The sudden removal of the U.S. de minimis exemption has blindsided many of us with devastating ripple effects. If you’re a customer, this could mean delays, higher costs, or paused orders from many small makers you love. I want to lay out what’s happening, why it matters, and how we can try to navigate it.

We’re thrilled to share the full Q&A with Bernice, the creative mind behind Yamagara Knits. She's been kind enough to share with us a behind-the-scenes look at her design process, favorite projects, and the little details that make her patterns so thoughtful and engaging. From yarn-inspired ideas to clever stitch tricks and projects that surprised her, Bernice shares insights, inspirations, and stories that knitters of all levels will enjoy. Q. You’ve mentioned that many of your ideas begin with a yarn and its story -- is there a moment you can share when the yarn itself inspired a design, and if that story might have influenced the final design? Indeed, many of my designs begin with the yarn itself. The ZZ Bag, for example, came to life simply because I saw "felting instructions" on the Zealana Tui yarn label and felt compelled to explore intentional felting. The bold zigzag chevron pattern plays with the black and white colourway I chose, while also subtly referencing the letter Z—for Zealana and New Zealand, where the yarn originates.Another memorable instance is the Luminos Tee, inspired by the dramatic "Squid" colourway from Hedgehog Fibres. It reminded me of hotaruika, the bioluminescent firefly squid that lights up Toyama Bay in Japan each spring. To echo that deep-sea shimmer, I paired Squid with HHF’s blackest shade. I was thrilled with how the colours evoked bioluminescence. Taking the idea further, I added decorative crochet lines along the shoulders, connecting with thin stripes on the front and back. Together, they suggest the shape of the Chinese/Japanese character for light or fire, 火. Can you see it? Q. Your designs include thoughtful details like box pleating in Himmel, and the double-waistband in your Two in the Afternoon skirt; is there a favorite “clever detail” you love that knitters might miss, or one you hope they notice? It’s interesting that you mentioned box pleating in Himmel. The neckline shaping was actually achieved through the natural structure of the chevron stitch pattern. The box pleat at the hem started as a practical solution to straighten the bottom edge of the chevron stitch but ended up adding visual interest and fun to the knitting process. Since then, pleating and chevron patterns have become two of my favourite design elements. You’ll find them, in various interpretations, in Lapis, Manis, Luminos Tee, Shophouse Tee, Wild Forests, Taihi Cowl, A Chic Scarf, ZZ Bag, and Solarae Top. I’m continually exploring new ways to incorporate them into my work. Lapis Back to Himmel, perhaps only those who have knitted the design know this. Instead of purling in the round, the reverse stockinette stitch on the hem is worked by knitting in the round on the wrong side. This is not a new trick but there is a neat little detail to doing this without leaving a gap in the fabric when you turn your work to the wrong side and continue knitting in the round. The answer is a double stitch at the beginning of the round, similar to when working German short rows, then working the double stitch as one knit stitch when you come back to it. Perhaps this too isn’t a new trick, but I was very pleased to come up with this solution when I came across the problem.  Q. Can you share a favorite project you’ve worked on that surprised you -- either by how it turned out, or how others responded to it? One project that truly surprised me was New Terrain, an updated version of my older Terrain Tee, originally designed in collaboration with We Are Knitters for their 2021 Makers Around the World collection. I did not expect much attention. After all, it was a refresh of an existing pattern, but the response was overwhelmingly positive. Perhaps those who support New Terrain appreciate that it is more than just a rename. It features thoughtful improvements: it’s now seamless, worked top-down in the round, with added shoulder short rows for a better fit, a wider size range, and a refined cropped silhouette. I was delighted by how well it was received and excited to see knitters making it their own in different yarns and colours. Q. What part of the design process do you find the most satisfying? Is there a part that you secretly dread (but power through anyway)? I enjoy every part of the design process, but the most satisfying moment is putting on the finished sample for the first time and showing it to my husband and daughter. Getting their nods of approval always feels special. Grading was a real challenge when I first started designing, but over time, it’s become something I genuinely enjoy. The only downside is the physical strain from spending long hours at the computer writing and grading. I have to remind myself to take breaks and stretch! Chorus Wrap We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Bernice and her thoughtful approach to knitwear design. From clever stitch details to projects that delight and surprise, her work reminds us that every knit has a story -- and a little bit of magic. You can cozy up with Bernice’s latest creations by following her on Instagram or exploring her patterns on Ravelry.  Thank you for joining us on this Maker Spotlight journey, and we can’t wait to see how Bernice’s designs continue to inspire the knitting community. Love,