As a result of the increased tariffs since April 2025, the cost of inventory in the United States has increased. The United States also eliminated the de minimis duty-free exemption for certain shipments effective May 2, 2025, and an Executive Order extends this elimination globally beginning August 29, 2025, with legislation enacted to repeal the statutory exemption entirely by July 1, 2027. The countries from which we source the majority of our products are now subject to higher tariffs on imports into the United States. Further, the majority of our sales to U.S. e-commerce guests are currently fulfilled from distribution centers in Canada, and historically a significant proportion of these orders qualified for the de minimis exemption. The removal of this exemption increases the cost of fulfilling those orders. As a result, more shipments are now subject to duties, taxes, and customs procedures, which increased product costs during 2025, and which we expect to continue into 2026 and beyond. We are taking steps designed to mitigate some of the financial impact, although we expect the tariff and de minimis changes to adversely affect product costs, gross profit, and income from operations. On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Power Act and immediately after, the U.S. Administration initiated new tariffs at different rates under alternative legislative powers, which increases the uncertainty around tariffs.
There has been significant volatility in U.S. tariff and customs policy recently, with frequent changes in rates, sudden elimination or reinstatement of exemptions, shifts in implementation dates, and reversals of prior actions. In addition, there is uncertainty around how tariff rules will be applied to goods routed through third countries (transshipment) and potential changes to the valuation methodology used to calculate duty, including the first sale declaration program in the United States. Changes in tariff and customs policy and legislation could affect the level of duties imposed and our overall product costs. This volatility makes it more difficult to forecast costs, plan our global supply chain, and provide reliable financial guidance. Policy changes often require rapid operational adjustments that can increase costs and reduce efficiency. Announcements of tariff and custom changes, as well as our disclosures of their potential impacts, have at times contributed to fluctuations in our stock price. We expect such volatility and uncertainty to continue, posing ongoing challenges to our operations, financial planning, and investor communications.