Intro:
How US Tariff Changes Are Hurting Fandoms
Collectors of imported goods are being forced to swallow a bitter pill. While scrolling social media late one night, I saw a post: “Had someone cancel a $1,000 order on eBay today due to a ‘tariff tax.’ Is that a thing now?” (image posted below). Curious, I checked the responses and did further research. From Cbc.ca, an executive order from the White House now requires all shipments under $800 to be taxed, effectively killing the de minimis exemption that once allowed low-value imports duty-free. What seems like a simple policy shift could become one of the biggest shakeups fandom collectors have faced in years.
As bad as this is for U.S. buyers, the ripple effects could be worse. If Canada adopts a matching policy, then incoming shipments from the U.S. could be hit too. Thankfully, in-store purchases remain unaffected—but for online shoppers, it feels like being stomped by Godzilla.