The on-again, off-again back and forth about tariffs between the U.S. and Canada has caused confusion and uncertainty on both sides of the border for businesses of all capacities, but the latest changes to what’s known as the “de minimis” exemption are likely to impact small businesses in a big way.

De minimis is a Latin term which means something is insignificant or of minimal value. In the context of international trade or packages crossing the U.S.-Canada border, it refers to a set dollar value below which an item does not attract duties or a tariff.

Until now, the U.S. de minimus exemption, introduced in the 1930s, allowed a tariff-free flow of low-value items from Canada to the U.S. regardless of where they’re from or where they’re made. This allowed small businesses to send as litt

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