US buyers of Canadian Trailers

[Bill in Pittsburgh]

It looks like a window has opened that you may be able to take advantage of. If you have placed an order with a down payment and have a 2025 finish date, consider this. However, you may want to consult your lawyer and your manufacturer as I am not a lawyer.
A previous threader has said he made a down payment in December for a Big Foot due to be finished in March.
A solution to avoid a tariff penalty may be to pay in full now and assume ownership of your trailer prior to finish.
Good Luck!

[John in Santa Cruz]

the US tariffs on Canadian goods are on hold. for now.

[Bill in Pittsburgh]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

the US tariffs on Canadian goods are on hold. for now.

Currently on hold for 30 days.

[Jon in AZ]

Again, if you’re working with a US-based dealer (Bigfoot) I would want to be in close communication with the dealer. If you’re working directly with the manufacturer (Escape), you should be in close contact with them.

Either way, I would be prepared to adjust the delivery date based on the unfolding circumstances. Timing matters. In my view it’s likely there will be another stop-gap agreement reached before the month is up, but of course there is no guarantee.

[Dudley]

If the tariffs come back on, the tariff will be charged on entry to the country by US Customs. Whether or not the trailer is paid for in advance means nothing. It will be applied on the price or the estimated value. If you are picking up at the factory or the dealer is, the tariff will be collected at the border and probably passed on to the buyer. If you are thinking that you can pre-register the trailer, the problem is there are import documents that must be done at the border to allow registration of a imported trailer.

[Bill in Pittsburgh]

Originally Posted by Dudley

If the tariffs come back on, the tariff will be charged on entry to the country by US Customs. Whether or not the trailer is paid for in advance means nothing. It will be applied on the price or the estimated value. If you are picking up at the factory or the dealer is, the tariff will be collected at the border and probably passed on to the buyer. If you are thinking that you can pre-register the trailer, the problem is there are import documents that must be done at the border to allow registration of a imported trailer.

I'm not a lawyer but just thinking outside the box.
My thoughts are more along the lines of taking ownership now. Crossing the border now with all the documentation minus the trailer. Then registering the title NOW in the US with all the documentation and then Registering the trailer NOW with the buyers home state DMV.
When picking up and crossing the border with previously US registered title and plate. Customs would see the vehicle as previously owned and not subject to current purchase tariffs.
I know,"a lot of ifs".

[BizCrate]

I have an Escape. I don’t know what other manufacturers are doing but Escape has a tariff solution posted on their page. It goes something like this:
Put a normally non-refundable 10% deposit down on a new build. If the 25% tariff goes into effect that would impact the import of your trailer at time of delivery then Escape will discount your trailer 25% or will refund your normally non-refundable deposit - depending on your choice of taking final possession or not.

[TeresaT]

Originally Posted by Bill in Pittsburgh

I'm not a lawyer but just thinking outside the box.
My thoughts are more along the lines of taking ownership now. Crossing the border now with all the documentation minus the trailer. Then registering the title NOW in the US with all the documentation and then Registering the trailer NOW with the buyers home state DMV.
When picking up and crossing the border with previously US registered title and plate. Customs would see the vehicle as previously owned and not subject to current purchase tariffs.
I know,"a lot of ifs".

No idea about Canada...but I know when I registered my Canadian built camper in the US just from state to state, I had to have an "IN-Person" inspection of the camper for the registration. If you have to have it inspected for title, I'm not sure how to get around that part but good luck. most of us in the US are not a fan of this tariff btw....

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by BizCrate

I have an Escape. I don’t know what other manufacturers are doing but Escape has a tariff solution posted on their page. It goes something like this:
Put a normally non-refundable 10% deposit down on a new build. If the 25% tariff goes into effect that would impact the import of your trailer at time of delivery then Escape will discount your trailer 25% or will refund your normally non-refundable deposit - depending on your choice of taking final possession or not.

That's an extremely generous offer, considering the problem is not of Canadian making. Bigfoot's solution, if rumors are correct, isn't as generous but still better than walking away. Clearly both companies value their US customers.

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Bill in Pittsburgh

I'm not a lawyer but just thinking outside the box.
My thoughts are more along the lines of taking ownership now. Crossing the border now with all the documentation minus the trailer. Then registering the title NOW in the US with all the documentation and then Registering the trailer NOW with the buyers home state DMV.
When picking up and crossing the border with previously US registered title and plate. Customs would see the vehicle as previously owned and not subject to current purchase tariffs.
I know,"a lot of ifs".

I believe the missing piece is the US Customs Form CBP 1750. You can't register an imported vehicle in any state without that form, and you can't get that form without having the vehicle physically inspected at the border and paying any tariffs applicable at the time. The physical inspection verifies matching VIN numbers and USDOT compliance sticker ("This vehicle conforms to all US regulations at time of manufacture..." or something like that). Based on reports, some CBP agents might overlook the DOT compliance piece if it's a trailer, because it's just about running lights, not emissions or safety equipment, but no guarantees.

[Bill in Pittsburgh]

Originally Posted by TeresaT

No idea about Canada...but I know when I registered my Canadian built camper in the US just from state to state, I had to have an "IN-Person" inspection of the camper for the registration. If you have to have it inspected for title, I'm not sure how to get around that part but good luck. most of us in the US are not a fan of this tariff btw....

Fortunately I have never been required to have a vehicle or trailer physically inspected in Pa to register a title or to apply for a license plate.