By ShipTime
Cross-border shipping between Canada and the United States continues to evolve, and 2026 brings some of the most meaningful changes businesses have seen in years. From tariff adjustments to stricter customs requirements, international shipments are becoming more complex and more costly if not handled properly.
At ShipTime, we’ve spent the past year improving our international and cross-border shipping capabilities to help businesses adapt to these changes while maintaining predictable costs and reliable delivery.
As of January 2026, the U.S. has eliminated its duty-free threshold for low-value imports. This means nearly all shipments entering the United States are now subject to duties and taxes, regardless of declared value.
For Canadian businesses shipping to U.S. customers, this change increases the importance of accurate customs data and upfront cost visibility.
New U.S. tariffs on Canadian lumber and wood-related products are being phased in, with rates expected to reach between 30 and 50 percent. Businesses shipping products that include wood materials may see higher landed costs and additional scrutiny at the border.
Updates to Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes have been delayed and are expected to take effect around February 1, 2026. While this offers a short transition period, accurate HS and HTS classification remains critical to avoiding clearance delays once enforcement begins.
Together, these changes are increasing customs complexity across the board. Many carriers are still adapting, and shipments with incomplete or inaccurate documentation are more likely to face delays or unexpected charges.
Throughout 2025, ShipTime introduced several international shipping enhancements designed to address growing cross-border challenges and provide businesses with more clarity and control.
ShipTime now supports automatic HS code assignment for eligible shipments, helping reduce manual errors and ensuring customs documentation is more accurate from the start.
For supported couriers, ShipTime enables duties and taxes to be prepaid at the time of label creation. This allows shippers to better understand estimated landed costs upfront and helps reduce delivery interruptions caused by unpaid fees.
When available, ShipTime displays approximate duties and taxes during the shipping process. This gives businesses better insight into total shipping costs before a package ever crosses the border.
ShipTime supports uploading multiple customs documents per shipment, helping businesses meet increasingly detailed clearance requirements. This includes commercial invoices, CUSMA certificates of origin, and other supporting documents required for cross-border shipments.
Having all required documentation attached in one place helps reduce back-and-forth with couriers and customs authorities, supporting faster clearance and fewer delays.
International shipping requirements will continue to evolve, and ShipTime is committed to expanding our cross-border tools to keep pace with regulatory changes and shipper needs.
More international enhancements are already in development, focused on improving cost transparency, reducing manual work, and helping businesses Ship Smarter when shipping beyond Canada.
U.S. cross-border shipping in 2026 brings higher costs, stricter customs requirements, and less margin for error. With continued investment in international tools like automatic HS codes, prepaid duties and taxes, and multi-document upload for customs clearance, ShipTime is helping businesses adapt to these changes with greater confidence and control.
As international shipping becomes more complex, our focus remains the same – making shipping more affordable, reliable, and easier to manage for businesses of all sizes.
About ShipTime:
Ship Smarter – with ShipTime, we are a true partner beyond just discounted rates. We provide a best in class platform with features packed with features and backed by our legendary Heroic Support™ team.
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