August 22nd, 2025
The US has announced that the de minimis exemption for imports (the threshold below which imported goods won’t need to be charged duties and fees) from all countries will be eliminated as of August 29th 2025.
Starting August 29th, all shipments to the US—regardless of value—will be subject to applicable duties and customs clearance. As of this date, Canada Post has advised that its current Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) shipping services to the US (Tracked Packet USA, Expedited Parcel USA, or Xpresspost USA) are not compliant with these changes.
There is a significant risk that non-compliant shipments arriving to the US beyond August 29th will be returned to the sender. Therefore, effective August 22nd Game Breakers has suspended shipments to the US, until we have found a reasonable solution to avoid in-transit shipments from being returned.
We are in the process of investigating whether UPS, FedEx, DHL, or Purolator that can handle US customs clearance at an economical cost
As always, thank you for being a valued part of the global Game Breakers community.
The Game Breakers Team
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August 15th, 2025
The US government has issued an executive order to eliminate the de minimis exemption. De minimis was a customs threshold that had long allowed low-value shipments to enter the USA duty-free and with minimal paperwork.
This policy will go live on 29 August 2025. It’s crucial to understand how this may impact your purchases.
From August 29, 2025, the United States will remove the $800 de minimis exemption for imports from all countries. This means every shipment, no matter the value, will face duties, taxes, and customs checks.
What does it means for you as a shopper?
Without de minimis, the final price paid for imported goods will rise, sometimes sharply, as duties, taxes, and import fees will now be applied to every purchase. Delivery may also take longer due to increased customs processing.
The removal of the $800 de minimis rule is one of the biggest shifts in U.S. trade policy in years. For consumers, it means higher prices, more customs paperwork, and fewer frictionless global shopping experiences.
If your overseas purchases take longer to deliver after August 29, now you’ll know why.
Additionally, new tariffs came into effect on 7 August, increasing import costs for many international shipments to the US.
- Duties and customs clearance: Starting 29 August, all shipments to the US—regardless of value—will be subject to applicable duties and customs clearance.
- Potential delays: Shipments might experience delays due to the new tariffs and increased US Customs requirements.
All Game Breakers products are shipped via Canada Post. In-Store Pickup is always available at our brick and mortar store, located at 780 Baseline Road, Ottawa, Ontario.
Thanks for being a valued part of the global Game Breakers community.
The Game Breakers Team
