U.S. Shipping & Tariffs | Carole Martin Bra
U.S. Tariffs Shipping
Cross-Border Tariffs Update
We want to be fully transparent with our customers about recent changes affecting orders shipped from Canada to the U.S. Our Carole Martin products, are designed in Canada and produced in Thailand.
Normally we are able to keep our prices low by shipping our products to our USA customers DUTY FREE while passing on the savings. Now this approach to SAVING YOU MONEY is facing significant challenges and we are no longer able to ship duty-free.
Prior to emposing general tariffs on goods shipped from Canada, anything valued at up to $800 USD ordered from outside of the U.S.A. could be delivered to you Duty Free.
If you ordered merchandise valued at $100 from Carole Martin, you would not be charged anything at the border. Now, becuase Duty and Tarrifs are being charged, those same items are subject to $17.00 in Duty and $35.00 in Tariff.
That is a $52.00 charge you would otherwise not have to pay.
Shipping From Within The U.S.A.
To get around this, we are now shipping from a U.S.A. based facility. However, those same goods which were previously shipped duty free are still assessed duty and tariff before they get to our U.S.A. warehouse. Becausee they are shipped from Thailand directly to the U.S.A. they are now subject to the same 17% Duty and a slightly lower 19% tariff - Total 36%.
That is a 36% percent cost you would otherwise not have had to pay. This significantly impacts costs requiring us to pass some of these extra costs to our customers.
Items originating from China are now subject to 104% Tariff and 17% Duty - Total 121%
We can no longer offer these previously Duty Free items to you.
We are working hard to minimize these price increases, and have been forced to temporarily cut back our U.S. offerings until we comlete the set up in our U.S. based facility. Our goal is to keep prices fair and as low as possible.
We appreciate your patience while we work to resolve this issue.
Why Are Products Paused for U.S. Customers?
Due to new cross-border tariffs and duties, products shipped from Canada into the United States are now subject to:
- 35% Tariff
- 17% Duty
That’s over 52% in added costs, which makes it impossible to keep our prices at the fair level you’ve come to expect.
What’s Still Available?
At this time, a limited number of products are available for U.S. customers
All other products are temporarily unavailable in the U.S. while we work to move inventory into our American facilities.
What We’re Doing About It
Redistributing stock to U.S. warehouses so we can ship locally.
This will not eliminate all tariffs and duties because what we previously provided to you duty free is now subject to 1% duty and 19% tariff when imported from overseas.
The new tariff rules mean higher prices for you as we have no choice but to pass theses added costs along to our customers.
Exploring long-term logistics solutions to protect our customers from unnecessary price increases.
Our Commitment
We are proud to bring you the comfort and quality of Carole Martin bras. While this transition is temporary, our focus is on keeping prices fair and restoring full U.S. availability as quickly as possible.
We appreciate your patience and continued support.
U.S. Tariffs & Shipping FAQ
Q: Why have shipments to the U.S. been stopped?
A: In the wake of the announcement, postal carriers in more than 25 countries suspended service to the U.S. Many Canadian small business owners, including us, have also paused U.S. orders while preparing for the new shipping fees and working on long-term solutions.
Q: What are tariffs and duties?
A: Tariffs are taxes imposed on products imported from another country. Duty is a fee charged by customs on certain imported goods. Both add to the cost of products shipped across borders.
Q: Why were we able to ship duty-free before?
A: Previously, orders under $800 could be shipped to the U.S. duty-free under Section 321, also called the “de minimis” rule. This exemption meant shipments below $800 were not subject to tariffs or duties, allowing many products to reach U.S. customers without extra costs.
Q: Why are U.S. orders affected now?
A: As of August 29, 2025, the Section 321 exemption for Canada and other countries was suspended. Now, shipments from Canada to the U.S. are subject to 35% tariffs plus 17% duty, which increases the cost of imported products.
Q: Which products are still available to U.S. customers?
A: At this time, only the Carole Martin Original Full Freedom Comfort Bra in select colors is available. Other products are temporarily unavailable while we move inventory into U.S. facilities.
Q: How are tariffs and duty calculated?
A: Here’s an example:
-
Duty-Free (before Section 321 change):
Bra $10.00 + Duty $0 = $10.00 -
With Tariffs & Duty (current):
Bra $10.00 + 52% (35% U.S. Tariff + 17% Thailand Duty) = $15.20
Q: When will the full product range return to the U.S.?
A: We’re redistributing inventory into U.S. facilities to avoid tariffs. While there’s no exact date, our goal is to restore full availability as soon as possible.
Q: Will prices increase because of tariffs?
A: We’re working hard to keep prices fair. Any temporary adjustments are due to unavoidable tariffs and duties, and our goal is to minimize the impact for customers.