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Understanding USMCA and the 25% Tariffs on Canadian and Mexican Goods
Updated on August 14. Originally written March 14, 2025 Summary: In March 2025, conflicting reports suggested that U.S. tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico were being paused, but in reality, most products remain subject to tariffs unless they qualify under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). To claim USMCA benefits, goods…
Tariff Deep Dive: Understanding Country of Origin and Its Impact on Import Tariffs
Updated on August 15, 2025. Originally written February 13, 2025 Summary In early 2025, the U.S. introduced sweeping tariff and customs changes, beginning with a 10% tariff on goods manufactured in China, followed by the removal of the $800 de minimis exemption for China-origin goods in May and for…
The end of the U.S. $800 de minimis rule: What it means for consumers
Summary Starting August 29, 2025, shopping from overseas is about to get more expensive. The U.S. will eliminate the $800 de minimis rule, an exemption that has long allowed low-value shipments to enter the country duty-free and with minimal paperwork. This change is designed to close loopholes in international trade…
Tariff Deep Dive: Customs Calculation of New Duties and Fees For Shipments Not Eligible for De Minimis Entry
Updated: August 14th, 2025 originally written April 29, 2025 Summary As of May 2, 2025, goods from China and Hong Kong no longer qualify for Section 321 de minimis entry, and starting in August 2025, this removal applies to all countries. Section 321 previously allowed shipments under $800 to enter…
The end of the US $800 de minimis rule and what it means for international ecommerce merchants
Summary: Starting August 29, 2025, the U.S. will eliminate the $800 de minimis rule, an exemption that has long allowed low-value shipments to enter the country duty-free and with minimal paperwork. This change will have major implications for brands, 3PLs, and marketplaces that have relied on this threshold—especially those using…
Guide on Regionalization for Global Fulfillment
Summary International ecommerce doesn’t have to mean long delivery times and customs headaches. Regionalizing fulfillment—storing and shipping inventory closer to your customers—can help you cut costs, speed up delivery, and meet rising customer expectations. In this blog, we break down the rising trend of regionalized fulfillment, explore when it makes…
Cross Border Chronicles | July 25th, 2025
New! Refer a Merchant & Earn $1000 Know a brand ready to ship globally? Refer them to FlavorCloud and earn $1,000 when they start shipping. They’ll get $100 off too. It’s a win-win. Refer a merchant today. Tariff Update Trump has announced trade deals with Japan and Indonesia. Upcoming:…
How Johnnie-O Unlocked New Global Growth
Company Overview Johnnie-O is a premium lifestyle apparel brand built at the intersection of tradition and innovation. Founded in Southern California, the company draws inspiration from “the more interesting scenic route” blending classic East Coast style, laid-back West Coast influence, and a touch of Midwest grit. Johnnie-O creates timeless, thoughtful…
Intelligent International Shipping for Apparel and Footwear Brands
International shipping for apparel and footwear across borders might seem straightforward, but this category comes with its own set of compliance landmines, cost considerations, and customer experience traps. Even so, it’s an opportunity that is well worth the investment, In 2025, Apparel market revenue worldwide is estimated to reach a…
Importing Supplements into the US: The 4 Things Ecommerce Brands Need to Know
The US is one of the largest and most lucrative markets for supplements, the revenue generated in the vitamins & minerals market in the United States amounts to US$4.79bn in 2025. However, getting your products across the border isn’t as simple as printing labels and pressing “ship.” For ecommerce merchants…
Shipping Beauty and Cosmetics Internationally: What Brands Need to Know
The global beauty and cosmetics industry is booming with a 46.6% year over year increase in international growth. Shipping beauty and cosmetics internationally is becoming an enticing market. International shoppers are eager to access favorite skincare brands, fragrances, and clean beauty essentials, presenting a significant opportunity for brands to expand…
Cross Border Chronicles | June 2025
June Month over Month Shipment Growth After an industry-wide dip tied to tariff volatility and shifting trade policies, June marked a strong rebound in international shipments across key markets. Get more metrics from the State of Cross Border: Consumer Report. 🇨🇦 Canada: +78% 🇦🇺 Australia: +74% 🇬🇧 Great Britain: +61% …
Shipping Supplements to Canada: What Brands Need to Know About Natural Health Product (NHP) Regulations
Selling and shipping supplements to Canada is a huge growth opportunity—Statista projects Canada’s supplement industry to generate US$1.05bn in revenue in 2025—but it comes with unique regulatory considerations. Canada doesn’t treat vitamins, probiotics, and herbal remedies like just any other ecommerce product. Instead, they fall under Health Canada’s Natural Health…
Think You’ve Mastered International Shipping? Not Without These Labeling and Compliance Rules
International shipping is full of curveballs, but one area that often gets overlooked until it’s too late? Labeling compliance and business rule management. If you’re an enterprise shipper expanding across borders, it’s not just about printing a label and sticking it on a box. Between evolving customs regulations, language requirements,…
Guide to Shipping Supplements Internationally
Understanding International Shipping Supplement The demand for supplements internationally is growing, Health & Wellness goods saw a 201% year-over-year increase in growth in 2024. Supplements were a large percentage of that international demand. However, shipping supplements internationally presents unique challenges due to varying regulations, carrier restrictions, and compliance requirements. Merchants…
How Your Import Strategy Impacts Customs Valuation
Tradewinds don’t die. They shift. That’s what we witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s happening again now in an unprecedented manner. With ongoing tariff volatility and the rebound from 145% tariffs on made in China goods and subsequent temporary relief down to 10% (existing 20% IEEPA tariffs still apply,…
Cross Border Chronicles | May 2025
May 2025 Top 5 Lanes Compared to Last Year Canada 17% increase Great Britian -47% decrease Australia 0% stayed stable Germany 69% increase United Arab Emirates 318% increase In May, cross border shipping lanes saw major shifts year-over-year: Canada (+17%), Germany (+69%), and the UAE (+318%) experienced strong growth, while…
Crossing Thresholds: Understanding International Sales Tax Thresholds
As ecommerce continues to expand across borders, merchants are reaching new markets with an average of 76% year-over-year growth in 2024. With that growth comes increased complexity, especially when it comes to tax compliance. Many countries now impose independent foreign sales and revenue tax registration on foreign sellers. These sales…
When to consider an FTZs to Address Tariff Volatility
In the latest turn of the tariff tide, the U.S. and China have reached a temporary trade agreement, dialling tariffs on made in China goods down to 10% (in addition to existing 20% IEEPA tariffs for a cumulative 30%) across many categories. It’s a reprieve but not a resolution. Merchants…
What Brands Get Wrong When Expanding Internationally—And How to Get It Right
Expanding internationally is a high-stakes game. The right move can unlock new revenue streams, lower your CAC, and build a truly global brand. But too often, brands rush in unprepared-without the market data, compliance know-how, or operational infrastructure to succeed. At FlavorCloud, we’ve helped thousands of brands launch and scale…
Cross Border Chronicle | April 2025 Newsletter
Welcome to the Cross Border Chronicle, FlavorCloud’s monthly newsletter to keep you up to date on the latest news in cross border commerce. Tariff Tracking Upcoming: US to eliminate USD $800 de minimis on Made in China and Hong Kong goods starting May 2nd. Read more about the impact…