Shipping Books and Non-Document Items to the USA

Effective Date: August 29, 2025

Updated: July 7, 2026

The following procedure applies to all shipments of books and non-document items to the United States and certain European Union (EU) countries.

Reason for Change
The United States has suspended its duty-free “de minimis” threshold of US $800 for all countries, including Canada. As a result, books and non-document items are subject to duties and customs clearance regardless of value.

Requirements

  • Books and other non-document items are classified as merchandise.
  • All such shipments must be sent via courier; regular mail is not permitted under this procedure.
  • A 2Ship form is required for every shipment.
  • Books are considered merchandise regardless of weight and are subject to duties and customs clearance.
  • Documents may still be sent by regular mail if they meet the following conditions:
    • Weight: under 500 grams
    • Maximum thickness: 20 mm (0.79 inches)
    • Maximum length: 380 mm (14.9 inches)
    • Maximum width: 270 mm (10.6 inches)
  • Any package containing books, non-document items, or envelopes that do not meet the above conditions, and that arrives at Central Stores without a completed 2Ship form, will be returned to the originating department.

European Union

Service Disruptions

Due to updated European Union customs regulations implemented July 1, 2026, Canada Post has temporarily suspended parcel delivery services to several EU countries.

We are temporarily unable to ship parcels via Canada Post to the following destinations:

  • Western Europe: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg
  • Southern Europe: Italy, Portugal, Spain
  • Northern & Central Europe: Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Ireland

What This Means:

  1. Parcel Shipping Paused: Shipments to these countries cannot be processed using regular Canada Post parcel rates.
  2. Alternative Shipping Required: To ship a parcel to a suspended country, you must complete a 2Ship Request Form, so the shipment can be sent by courier.
  3. Regular Mail: Document shipments that meet Canada Post's requirements may still be sent by regular mail. The suspension applies specifically to parcel delivery services.

For the latest information on Canada Post service suspensions and availability, see Service Suspensions and Availability – As of July 7, 2026 at 11 a.m. (EST).

Contact
For courier-related questions, please contact:
Trevor Beatson