E-tailing turns small companies into exporters

Washington

BOOMING online shopping is turning more small businesses into exporters and pushing issues such as duty free limits and customs duties higher up the wish lists for upcoming free trade deals.

Retailer Colleen Rast, who sells new brand-name apparel and vintage collectibles through eBay and Amazon, was hit with a US$150 customs bill when a New Zealand boutique returned a shipment with a retail value of US$1,000.

The duty represented 40 per cent of the original cost of the goods, and Ms Rast's Great Sky Gifts paid for the shipping too. "It ended up almost not worth it," said Ms Rast, who makes 20-25 per cent of sales overseas. "That's the one thing that directly affects us right now, …