If you’ve been collecting Canadian art (or you’re just starting to), you’ve probably heard some chatter about new US border charges. It’s real, and it’s created a lot of confusion for collectors and artists alike.
As of August 22, 2026, Canadian-made artworks entering the United States can be subject to an additional 50% duty at the border. The good news is: you can still buy from Canadian artists. The key is understanding how the duty is applied and making sure your purchase is structured so you don’t get hit with an unexpected invoice at delivery.
This article is written for American collectors who want to buy from Canadian artists (originals, watercolours, prints, and commissions) and want the process to feel clear and professional.
The change in plain English
Here’s what matters most from a collector perspective:
The duty is assessed at the border, based on where the artwork was made and its declared value.
The previous US$800 de minimis allowance has been suspended for these goods, so even smaller purchases can be affected.
Someone has to pay the duty: either the seller prepays it, or the buyer is charged by the shipping carrier on delivery.
That last point is where the collector experience can go wrong. Most people aren’t offended by the existence of a duty; they’re frustrated by surprise fees.
The collector rule: avoid doorstep bills
If you want your purchase to go smoothly, aim for this:
The artwork price is clearly stated
Any duty is shown as a separate line item
Duties are paid before delivery (so nothing is collected at your door)
If you’re buying directly from an artist, you can simply ask:
Can you estimate the duty as a separate line item and ship duties-paid so there’s nothing to pay on delivery?
It’s a reasonable question, and a professional artist will usually welcome it.
What types of art are affected?
In general, Canadian-made originals and many printed products can fall under the additional duty. The exact category can depend on how the work is produced (and how it’s classified for customs).
Two common purchases that can surprise collectors:
Prints (including canvas prints)
A digitally printed image, whether on paper or stretched canvas, may be treated as a printed picture for customs purposes and can carry the duty.
Greeting cards
Cards may be classified differently depending on whether they include a printed greeting or message. A blank-inside card with only an image may be treated more like a printed picture.
If you’re buying prints, cards, or reproductions, it’s worth asking the artist how they ship and whether duties will be prepaid.
How to keep buying Canadian art without making it complicated
Here are collector-friendly approaches that tend to reduce friction.
1) Choose duties-paid shipping whenever possible
If duties are collected on delivery, it can lead to delays, refused parcels, or a purchase that feels stressful instead of joyful. Duties-paid shipping keeps the experience clean.
2) Keep shipping separate from the artwork value
Duty is charged on declared value. Shipping should be itemised separately (and not rolled into the artwork price).
3) Consider shipping lean
If you’re buying an original, ask whether it can ship unframed, rolled (when appropriate), or otherwise packaged in a way that reduces shipping cost and complexity. (The declared value should still reflect the true sale price.)
4) If you mainly collect prints, ask about US fulfilment
There’s a practical workaround for prints: if a Canadian artist uses an American print partner to produce and ship prints within the US, the item is US-made and this specific duty may not apply.
If you love collecting prints, it’s worth asking artists whether they offer US-based printing and fulfilment.
5) Digital purchases avoid border issues entirely
Licensing, digital downloads, and commissions delivered as files don’t cross a physical border. No border, no customs duty.
6) If you travel to Canada, consider buying in person
The additional duty does not apply in the same way to personal items a traveller carries home in their own luggage. Studio visits, Canadian shows, and BC art fairs can be a meaningful (and practical) way to collect.
A quick note on what not to do
When rules change quickly, people sometimes suggest shortcuts (misdeclaring value, labelling items inaccurately, or trying to game customs categories). Don’t. It can lead to penalties, seized parcels, or a damaged relationship between collector and artist.
If you’re unsure, ask the artist how they handle customs and duties, or encourage them to check with a broker for higher-value shipments.
The heart of it: good collecting is transparent
Tariffs are frustrating. They also come and go.
What lasts is the work and the relationships around it.
If you’re an American collector who values Canadian artists, the best way to keep buying right now is to make transparency part of the purchase:
Ask about duties before you pay
Prefer duties-paid shipping
Expect clear line items (artwork, shipping, duty)
A good artist wants the experience to be good for you too.
