Is Your Shopify Store Ready for the US Tariffs? Here’s What You Need to Know
Shopify merchants, brace yourselves—new tariff threats are looming for Canadian sellers starting March 4 (wait, now it’s April 2?). If you’re selling internationally, now’s the time to ensure your Shopify store is prepared to navigate potential cost increases and avoid unnecessary headaches for you and your customers.
The good news? Shopify has made international selling slightly smoother by integrating duties and tax calculations at checkout for all plan levels. Here’s what this means for your store:
The Benefits of Shopify’s Built-In Duties and Tax Calculations
✅ Transparent pricing = Fewer abandoned carts
✅ No surprise fees = A better customer experience
✅ Fewer customs delays = Faster deliveries
By allowing customers to see duties and taxes upfront, you reduce the risk of abandoned carts caused by unexpected costs. Plus, customers won’t get hit with surprise fees when their orders arrive, leading to a smoother buying experience and fewer support tickets for you.
But There’s a Catch…
While Shopify now calculates and collects duties, your fulfillment process still matters. To ensure a seamless experience:
You must ship with a Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) label and a commercial invoice.
Without these, customs won’t recognize the prepaid duties, and your customers may still receive unexpected charges upon delivery.
Shopify charges a 0.5% fee on the order total for every international sale, even if the duty calculation comes out to zero.
How to Turn On Duties and Import Taxes in Shopify
If you’re ready to activate this feature, follow these simple steps:
Go to Settings in your Shopify dashboard.
Navigate to Taxes and duties.
Select Duties and import taxes and turn it on.
For a step-by-step guide, check out Shopify’s official documentation here.
What’s Next? Avoid Common Pitfalls
Even with Shopify’s duty calculation, international selling still has its challenges. Here are some additional resources to ensure your store is compliant and efficient:
Have you already implemented Shopify’s duty and tax feature? What’s been your biggest challenge? Let’s discuss—drop a comment or reach out to us directly. We’re here to help Shopify merchants navigate these changes and keep their businesses running smoothly.
Need expert advice? Contact us today!
Who is A&O?
A&O (Apples & Oranges) is a marketing agency specializing in helping Shopify merchants grow their brands, increase conversions, and optimize their online stores. Our mission is to empower Shopify store owners with data-driven marketing strategies, streamlined operations, and the tools needed to scale successfully.
From Shopify SEO optimization to high-converting ad campaigns and email marketing automation, A&O delivers customized solutions designed to maximize your store’s potential. Our expertise spans Shopify store development, digital marketing, and conversion rate optimization, ensuring you stay competitive in the fast-moving eCommerce landscape.
At A&O, we go beyond just marketing—we help you build a profitable and efficient Shopify ecosystem. Whether it’s setting up Shopify-integrated email flows, improving your customer retention strategy, or optimizing your product pages for higher sales, we provide tailored solutions that align with your business goals.
If you're looking to increase traffic, boost sales, and enhance customer loyalty for your Shopify store, A&O is here to help.
📩 Ready to scale your Shopify business? Contact us today!