U.S. Tariff Information

What the New 50% Tariff Means for ARKEL Bags

As of August 22, 2026, new U.S. tariffs have significantly increased the cost of importing Canadian-made products into the United States — including ARKEL bags. Here's what's happening and what we're doing about it.

What changed?

ARKEL bags are made in Canada. Under the new Section 338 action, our products (HTS 4202.92.9700) are now subject to an additional 50% tariff on import into the U.S.

Our products still qualify for preferential treatment under CUSMA/USMCA, so the normal U.S. base import duty and the Section 301 tariff don't apply to us. But Section 338 is different — it applies even to qualifying Canadian goods. CUSMA is still working; it just doesn't cover this particular tariff.

Not a one-way street

ARKEL bags are built using components and fabrics manufactured in the United States. This tariff doesn't just raise the cost of what we sell into the U.S. — it also affects the American suppliers and workers we've partnered with for years to build our products. This measure impacts businesses and people on both sides of the border, ours included.

This isn't new — it's the latest in a trend

Over the past year, U.S. importers have faced a growing list of additional fees and charges on cross-border goods. Each one, on its own, seems small — but together they add up, and they're ultimately paid by the same person: the end consumer.

What is ARKEL doing about it?

We've temporarily adjusted our U.S. pricing and now show customs duties as their own line item at checkout, rather than folding them invisibly into the product price. This is a deliberate, temporary measure — our goal is to keep ARKEL bags within reach for our U.S. customers while this situation plays out, not to lock in a permanent price change.

Your order still ships DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) — we remain responsible for clearing customs and pay the duty upfront on your behalf, so you never deal with a broker, a surprise carrier bill, or a delay at the border. We simply need to collect that cost at checkout so we can pay it when your order ships. It isn't additional revenue for us — it's passed through as-is to U.S. Customs.

We're still shipping to the United States

The U.S. has always been an important market for ARKEL, and that isn't changing. We're monitoring this situation closely and will adjust as it evolves. Thank you for continuing to ride with a small Canadian manufacturer through an unusually complicated trade environment.

Questions? Contact us here. 

FAQs

In August 2026, the U.S. government introduced a new 50% tariff on a range of Canadian-made goods, including our bags. This is a trade policy decision that applies broadly to Canadian exporters. It isn't specific to ARKEL, and we have no control over it.

It's worth noting: this isn't a one-way street for us. Many of the raw materials that go into ARKEL bags, including fabrics, bungee cords, and plastic hardware, are sourced from U.S. manufacturers we've partnered with for years. These trade measures affect businesses on both sides of the border, including ours, from both directions.

We've made two changes together: we've temporarily adjusted our U.S. pricing, and customs duties now appear as their own line item on your order rather than being folded into the product price. This is meant to be a temporary measure. Our goal is to keep ARKEL bags accessible to our U.S. riders while this situation plays out. In practice, this means the duty amount you see reflects the actual cost at the border, transparently, instead of being built invisibly into what you pay for the bag itself.

No. Your order still ships DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). ARKEL remains responsible for clearing customs and pays the duty upfront on your behalf. There's no surprise bill from the carrier, no customs broker to deal with, and no delay at the border. The only change is that this cost is now itemized on your invoice instead of hidden inside the product price.

We've made two changes together: we've temporarily adjusted our U.S. pricing, and customs duties now appear as their own line item on your order rather than being folded into the product price. This is meant to be a temporary measure. Our goal is to keep ARKEL bags accessible to our U.S. riders while this situation plays out. In practice, this means the duty amount you see reflects the actual cost at the border, transparently, instead of being built invisibly into what you pay for the bag itself.

If your order hasn't shipped, we need to cancel it and place a new one under the updated pricing and duty structure. This is a requirement of how the new customs charges apply. We'll reach out to you directly before doing anything, walk you through what changes (and what doesn't), and make sure the new total is as close as possible to what you originally expected to pay. We're sorry for the extra step. We're doing our best to make it painless.

Nothing changes. Your order and price stand exactly as invoiced.

Trade policy can change. If the tariff situation is resolved or adjusted, we will revisit both our pricing and this duty line item accordingly. We'll keep this page updated.