How global e-commerce brands can recover US import tariffs: Duty drawback explained

Thomas Taggart for Passport

How global e-commerce brands can recover US import tariffs: Duty drawback explained

Rising tariffs and trade enforcement are reshaping the economics of international e-commerce. For brands importing into the U.S. and shipping globally, duty costs have climbed significantly—especially with reciprocal tariffs and de minimis exemptions phasing out, which once allowed duty-free treatment on low-value imports.

And the pressure is showing up in brand strategies. A July 2025 study conducted by Passport in collaboration with Drive Research found that 99% of senior e-commerce leaders based in the U.S., U.K., and Canada say tariffs and trade shifts are affecting their peak season plans, with 81% calling the impact “strong.” The result? Seven in eight brands are rai