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New Duty-Free Limit Takes Effect for Canadian Shoppers

Story Published: Jun 3, 2012 at 7:39 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jun 3, 2012 at 7:43 PM EDT

You've seen the license plates: Ontario, Quebec. The Canadians are the weekend warriors of the Watertown shopping scene.

"Today we saved over 200 bucks on items that we would have bought back home," explained Eve Jean, a Canadian shopping in Watertown Sunday.

And you may be seeing more Canadians coming to the north country to shop beginning this weekend.

Included in the 2012 Canadian federal budget is an increase in the duty-free limit.

On visits of more than 24 hours Canadian shoppers will be able to bring back up to $200 (Canadian) worth of American goods. On visits longer than 48 hours, they can bring back $800 (Canadian) worth. 

So what's the big fuss over duty?

Canadians who take advantage of the tax exemption won't have to pay a 23 percent tax for clothing and footwear they buy on this side of the border.  

Since Watertown is so close to the border, the Canadians shoppers 7 News talked to Sunday say they won't stay here overnight.

"We are so close that we can do it in one day," said Claude Lavoie, who lives in Ottawa.

But since the new duty-free deal only applies for Canadians who stay here for more than 24 hours, there may be new incentive for those who cross the border to shop for a day to stick around a little longer.
 
Sunday, May 26, 2013
, Watertown, NY

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