Thinking About U.S. Fulfillment? Here's What Canadian Brands Need to Know

If you’re a Canadian DTC brand looking to scale into the U.S. market, there’s never been more opportunity — or more complexity. Between recent changes to tariff regulations and the end of the de minimis exemption, what used to be a simple cross-border shipment is now a potential profit-eater.

That means one thing: fulfilling U.S. orders directly from Canada is no longer your most efficient, affordable, or scalable option.

The good news? A U.S.-based fulfillment partner (with Canadian roots) like Shipfusion can help you make the leap — without the logistical headaches or compliance nightmares.

Let’s break down why.

Cross-Border Shipping is Riskier than Ever

It wasn't too long ago that Canadian brands could get away with shipping from Canada to their U.S. customers. But political and operational shifts have made this strategy more complex than ever.

The End of De Minimis Means More Paperwork (and More Cost)

Until recently, Canadian brands could rely on Section 321 to ship direct-to-consumer orders into the U.S. without paying duties — as long as the order value was under $800 USD. That loophole? Now closed.

Today, every shipment entering the U.S. from Canada requires formal customs clearance. That means more paperwork, longer delays, and new costs that can eat into already-tight margins.

Unpredictable Delays and Disrupted CX

International shipments are slower. They’re harder to track. And they’re more likely to get flagged or held up. 

As a result, customers are left wondering where their order is — or worse, turning to competitors with faster, domestic delivery options. And with domestic labor disputes always a possibility, particularly with Canada Post (which USPS stopped coordinating shipments with for a spell), having U.S. distribution is clutch.

Why U.S.-Based Fulfillment Just Makes More Sense Now

If you’re selling to U.S. customers, your products should be stored — and shipped — from within the U.S. Full stop.

Here's why it works:

Faster Delivery = Lower Costs

With inventory in a U.S. warehouse, you skip customs entirely and ship at domestic rates. That means serving up perks like 2-day shipping becomes affordable and repeatable. And your cart abandonment rate? Drops like a rock.

Stress-Free Compliance

No customs paperwork. No duty miscalculations. No Section 321 workarounds. U.S.-based fulfillment eliminates the compliance gray areas — and keeps your operations clean and scalable.

Easy Returns, Happy Customers

Returns from the U.S. to Canada are a logistical nightmare. They’re expensive and slow — and customers hate it. A domestic warehouse lets you offer easy, fast returns with a local return address. 

Why Canadian Brands Choose Shipfusion for U.S. Fulfillment

Here’s where Shipfusion stands out: we offer the best of both worlds.

With Canadian and U.S. fulfillment centers, we help you bridge the border without losing control. Whether you’re just testing the U.S. market or scaling aggressively, we’ll help you place your inventory in the most strategic location — and shift as you grow.

North American Warehouse Network

Shipfusion has strategic fulfillment centers in Canada and across the U.S., including Chicago, York, PA, and Las Vegas. Our U.S. locations give you fast access to major population zones and 2-day shipping coverage, while our Canadian site helps you balance inventory without completely splitting operations.

In-House Tech for Real-Time Visibility

Our proprietary WMS, Shipfusion 360, integrates directly with your ecommerce platform (Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce, etc.), giving you one dashboard to manage inbound shipments, orders, inventory, and returns across the border. You can track all inventory and orders by warehouse, or across your entire network.

Dedicated Account Management

Every Shipfusion client gets a dedicated Account Manager that works right in the warehouse on your behalf. We're here to troubleshoot and strategize the most common cross-border shipping conundrums, while providing proactive support, eyes on the floor, and a partner that knows your brand inside and out.

When Should You Make the Switch?

Here are the clear signs it's time to move from direct cross-border shipping out of Canada to U.S.-based fulfillment:

• You're shipping 100+ orders per day to U.S. customers
• You've seen a spike in cart abandonment due to slow or expensive shipping
• You're getting a lot of U.S. traffic on your site but not many conversions
• Your returns process is too costly or frustrating
• You're spending hours on customs and documentation
• You're launching retail or whole into the U.S. and need a compliant, scalable solution

U.S. Warehousing vs. Canadian Cross-Border Shipping: At a Glance

Final Takeaway: Don't Let Your Fulfillment Hold You Back

Your product is ready. Your brand is growing. Don’t let an outdated cross-border fulfillment strategy slow you down.

With Shipfusion, you get the infrastructure of a domestic U.S. 3PL — backed by the experience of a Canadian-born team that understands the realities of cross-border commerce.

📦 Ready to make U.S. fulfillment simple, compliant, and scalable?

Book a demo and let’s get your U.S. expansion moving — the right way.

Burning Questions: FAQs About Selling and Shipping to the U.S. as a Canadian Brand