🐉 The Tariff Dragon Is Coming: What U.S. Jewellery Lovers Need to Know

Well... I wish I had a more cheerful update for you, but apparently the international trade gods have decided that running a small Canadian jewellery business wasn't complicated enough. 😂

If you're one of my wonderful U.S. customers, you've probably been hearing about the new 50% tariffs on Canadian imports under Section 338.

And unfortunately, I need to give you a heads-up:

Jewellery is included in the products affected by the announced Section 338 tariffs.

The additional tariff is currently scheduled to take effect August 19, 2026, unless something changes before then.

And yes... this could affect what you pay when ordering my jewellery from Canada.

But please don't panic yet.

Nothing is completely set in stone.

💍 Yes, Jewellery Is Included

This is the part I want to make crystal clear because the situation is confusing.

The U.S. administration announced three Section 338 proclamations focused on Canadian dairy, alcoholic beverages and motor vehicles. However, the actual tariff annexes contain a much broader list of Canadian products, including jewellery.

Industry and trade sources specifically identify jewellery among the products covered by the new 50% tariff basket.

So yes:

Canadian jewellery → U.S. customer → potentially an additional 50% tariff starting August 19.

That's the part I don't want to sugarcoat.

💸 What Could That Mean for You?

Let's use some very simple examples.

If a U.S. customer buys $50 USD worth of jewellery, a 50% additional tariff would be:

$25 USD

A $100 order:

$50 USD

A $150 order:

$75 USD

A $200 order:

$100 USD

A $300 order:

$150 USD

BUT: those numbers are only the additional Section 338 tariff.

They don't necessarily represent the customer's final landed cost because other applicable duties, taxes, customs fees, brokerage or carrier charges can also factor into the final amount.

The Section 338 measures are an additional duty on top of other applicable duties, taxes, fees and charges, unless an exception applies.

So unfortunately, $100 of jewellery does not necessarily mean exactly $150 at the door.

It could be more depending on the shipment and applicable charges.

🧾 And Here's the Really Important Part About USMCA

This is one of the particularly frustrating parts.

Normally, qualifying Canadian goods can receive preferential treatment under the USMCA/CUSMA.

But these new Section 338 tariffs are different.

The announced Section 338 tariffs apply even to covered goods that qualify for USMCA preferential treatment. In other words, being Canadian-made and qualifying under USMCA does not automatically protect covered jewellery from this additional 50% tariff.

So this isn't simply:

“But it's Canadian-made, so it's duty-free!”

Unfortunately, not under this new measure if the jewellery is covered by the applicable HTS classification.

🧮 And What About Buying Just One Piece?

This is something I've been paying particularly close attention to because my customers aren't generally ordering twelve dozen rings at once.

You're buying:

One pendant.

One ring.

One pair of earrings.

Maybe three pieces because you have absolutely no self-control when confronted with a dragon's hoard. 😂

Jewellery tariff classifications can have different provisions based on things like the type of jewellery, material and value per dozen pieces. For example, U.S. tariff classifications for silver jewellery distinguish between pieces valued at not over $18 per dozen and other pieces.

But the new 50% Section 338 tariff is an additional duty on covered Canadian goods.

So buying fewer than a dozen pieces does not automatically make the Section 338 tariff disappear.

The exact underlying tariff calculation can still depend on the specific HTS classification of the item.

That's why I'm being careful not to tell you that every single piece of jewellery will have exactly the same final landed cost.

😭 I Know. This Is Not Fun.

And I really mean that.

I know a lot of you are American customers who have been buying from me for years.

Some of you have collections.

Some of you have favourite pieces you've been saving for.

Some of you have a wishlist that's basically becoming its own dragon hoard.

And the idea that a government tariff could potentially add another 50% of the declared value to your purchase is... pretty awful.

It's awful for you.

And it's awful for small Canadian businesses like mine.

Because I can't simply pretend that an extra 50% doesn't exist.

🐉 Can I Just Absorb the Tariff?

I wish I could say yes.

But I'm a small handmade jewellery business.

I'm not Amazon.

I'm not Walmart.

I'm not a multinational corporation with a customs department and a warehouse full of inventory.

If a $100 piece of jewellery suddenly creates a $50 additional import charge, absorbing that entire amount myself would be extremely difficult to sustain.

And that's before we talk about the existing cost of materials, labour, packaging, shipping, website fees, payment processing, customs paperwork and all the other delightful little expenses that come with running a small business.

So if these tariffs take effect as currently announced, U.S. customers may ultimately have to shoulder some or all of that additional import cost.

I hate that.

But I also want to be honest with you.

🇨🇦🇺🇸 There's Still Hope

Now here's the part where I don't want everyone to start panic-buying jewellery.

The tariffs have been announced, but they have not yet taken effect.

The current effective date is August 19, 2026.

And Canada and the United States are still actively negotiating.

As of this week, Canadian and U.S. trade officials are continuing urgent discussions in an effort to reach an agreement before the deadline.

So things could still change.

The tariffs could be:

• Reduced
• Modified
• Delayed
• Exempted for certain products
• Replaced by a negotiated trade arrangement
• Or potentially withdrawn

Section 338 itself gives the U.S. administration authority to suspend, revoke, supplement or amend the measures.

So August 19 isn't necessarily the end of the story.

❤️ What I'm Asking My U.S. Customers to Do

First: don't panic.

Second: if you've been planning to order something, understand that there is a real possibility of additional import costs beginning August 19.

Third: if you have questions about a specific piece, ask me before ordering. I'll do my best to give you the information I have available.

And finally, please understand that I don't control U.S. customs charges.

If a tariff is assessed when your package enters the United States, that's a government import charge rather than something I'm personally adding to your order.

I'm going to keep monitoring the situation and will update you if the rules change.

🥹 And Thank You

This is the part I really want to say.

To every U.S. customer who has ever ordered something from my little Canadian jewellery business:

Thank you.

Seriously.

You've helped me build this strange little dragon hoard of a business over the years.

You've bought my dragons.

You've bought my swords.

You've bought my anime treasures.

You've bought rings, earrings, pendants and probably several things you absolutely did not technically need but needed anyway. 😂

And I appreciate every single order.

I sincerely hope our two countries can reach a trade agreement before these tariffs hit.

Because I'd much rather spend my time figuring out which geeky treasure I should make next than trying to calculate international tariff percentages.

🐲 For Now, Keep Your Fingers, Toes & Claws Crossed

The current situation is:

Jewellery is included.

The additional tariff is 50%.

The announced effective date is August 19, 2026.

USMCA does not currently exempt covered products from this Section 338 tariff.

And negotiations are still happening.

So yes, there's a real possibility that ordering Canadian jewellery from the U.S. could become more expensive.

But it's not too late for things to change.

I'm going to keep watching.

I'll keep making the jewellery.

And I'm going to keep my fingers, toes and dragon claws crossed for a trade deal.

Because frankly, I have much more exciting things to worry about.

Like whether I have enough Buster Swords in the hoard.

— Stephenie 🐉