We want to share a transparent update regarding duties on U.S. shipments and thank our community for their continued patience as we work through a complex and evolving situation.

Following the U.S. executive order announced on November 13, 2025, there was widespread optimism that green tea shipments would once again be duty-free. However, this exemption does not apply to international mail, including shipments sent from Canada into the U.S. via national postal services.

Our e-commerce platform initially interpreted the executive order as allowing 0% duties to be collected from customers across the board. After receiving an unexpected customs bill, we challenged this interpretation, and the platform has since rectified its duty calculations. Duties are now being correctly collected at 15% at checkout for U.S. shipments.

During the period when 0% duties were applied at checkout, emeri absorbed the full 15% duties out of pocket for all U.S. orders in order to minimize disruption and protect our customers from unexpected fees, as initially promised. Customers who checked out during this time will not receive any surprise charges or customs bills.

We recognize that the reintroduction of duties is frustrating, and we sincerely apologize for the confusion and inconvenience this situation has caused. Our team is actively exploring alternative solutions to remove these duties again and to create a smoother, more predictable cross-border experience for our U.S. customers.

We are deeply grateful to our customers for their trust, patience, and continued support. We also stand in solidarity with fellow small businesses impacted by this executive order. Unexpected costs like these can be heavy and disruptive, and we encourage others to review their statements carefully. This has been a shared challenge, and we’re navigating it together.

Thank you for all your support,
Josephine & Justin