New Customs Rule Threatens Affordable Canadian Drug Imports

A new customs rule threatens affordable Canadian drug imports for millions of Americans.

The Trump administration has suspended the de minimis exemption for shipments under $800, complicating access to lower-cost medicines from Canada. This structural shift could raise costs and disrupt supply for those relying on cross-border prescriptions.

Effective October 22, the rule requires additional data and bond guarantees for low-value shipments, including medications, potentially delaying or refusing deliveries. Roughly 2.3 million Americans purchase drugs abroad, often finding substantial savings: a three-month supply of Eliquis costs $565 from Canada versus over $1,000 domestically. Tariffs imposed in August have already driven significant price increases for patients like Ohio’s Susan Hooper, who saw some of her medication costs nearly double. Despite a 3.1 percent decline in U.S. drug prices reported this summer, advocates argue that not all patients benefit equally. Lawmakers and over 70 Democrats have urged reconsideration, while patients like Susan Hooper warn that access to affordable medicines is a “matter of life and death.”

The cost of drugs from Canada is set to soar for millions of Americans because of a federal rule
By FATIMA HUSSEIN – Associated Press, Bozeman Daily Chronicle