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IOBA NEWS

IOBA Members Talk Tariffs with The Washington Post

Independent Online Booksellers Association (IOBA) members have been closely monitoring the impacts of the U.S. tariffs since they were first announced. With more than 370 members worldwide, IOBA is ideally suited to understand how these rules affect bookselling businesses, particularly regarding the shipping of books between countries. 


There have been ongoing discussions on our private members-only Discuss list, and shared news stories drew the attention of The Washington Post, resulting in coverage in the newspaper’s Book Club Newsletter by columnist Ron Charles, with two IOBA members being quoted in the piece. 


Richard Erdmann, owner of Mare Booksellers in Dover, New Hampshire, discussed some of the issues:


Richard Erdmann, vice president of the Independent Online Booksellers Association (IOBA), tells me he’s been hearing of problems from members in the U.S. and abroad. Even when dealers correctly label a package as informational material, “the shipping companies are erring on the side of caution and labeling it as something other than just a book” — and tacking on extra charges.


“Books — especially higher-end books — there’s a low margin on those,” he says. “An extra 20 percent onto what you expected to pay for that book can be a killer for trying to acquire inventory. Some of our sellers in the U.S. are extremely worried these tariffs could mean the end of their small businesses.”


Erdmann says his association is concerned that efforts to comply with new U.S. tariff rules could result in E.U. shippers charging ruinous flat fees, such as $80 for a single $10 book.


Sylvia Petras, a current IOBA Board Member-at-Large, added her perspective:


Sylvia Petras, owner of Leaf and Stone Books in Toronto, tried to use the new declaration form, which requires the address, phone number and Zip code of the manufacturer. “That’s really great in the used book market,” she says. She asked her fellow booksellers, “Anyone happen to have the email address, contact name and Tax ID number for one Aldus Manutius?” (Probably not. Ever since the Italian printer died in 1515, he’s been notoriously slow with paperwork.)


The comments above are excerpted with permission, but you can read the full Washington Post article here. IOBA leadership and our members will continue to track and share developments on this and a multitude of other topics through our private Discuss list, and other channels. 



Additional Links:

A statement regarding tariffs and their impact has been released by the Independent Online Booksellers Association. IOBA is a U.S. based, nonprofit, International trade organization benefiting member booksellers. The statement can be read on the IOBA.org website link: https://www.ioba.org/post/an-open-letter-about-book-tariffs


Richard Erdman's IOBA Link is: IOBA Member Directory

Sylvia Petras's IOBA Link is: IOBA Member Directory





 

An Open Letter About Book Tariffs

  • Writer: IOBA
    IOBA
  • Sep 19, 2025
  • 1 min read

Recent changes to U.S. trade policies are affecting the book trade. The IOBA Board of Directors penned this letter reflecting our concerns.  It was sent to U.S. Congress and Senate Committees.


Dear Chairman, I'm writing to you as the President of the Independent Online Booksellers Association. IOBA is a U.S.-based, nonprofit, international trade organization benefiting member booksellers conducting business online, with many members also having brick and mortar retail operations. The Executive Branch of the US government issued Executive Orders 14193, 14194, 14195, 14226, 14227, 14228, 14257, 14259, 14266, and 14298, all readable at https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/ The stated intents of the Executive Orders were balancing trade and improving national security, but these Orders caused unintended, significant harm to the bookselling trade. Additionally, the Orders apply to trade in newly produced goods, but our members are unduly burdened as they trade mainly in used, collectible, and antiquarian books. Books are tariff-free in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of 9/2025, but Orders override that, and U.S. and non-U.S. booksellers are severely constrained by country-by-country ad valorem tariffs of 10% to 25% or a flat rate from $80 to $200 USD. Navigating uncertainty, major countries and blocs have suspended parcel shipments to the U.S., thus affecting our member booksellers.
Particularly harmful is suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment for all countries. Books have low profit margin, and most online sales are for a single book, thus the ad valorem tariffs negate any profit on, and effectively stop, international sales to U.S. booksellers and retail customers. Even a 10% levy on books, plus the undue burden of reportage, threatens the viability of the traditionally low profit bookselling business. Some of our member booksellers specialize in non-U.S. topics and source books from non-U.S. countries. Current tariffs effectively thwart these booksellers from sourcing inventory, and their businesses will fail if this is not remedied. Our U.S. and non-U.S. member booksellers operate what is classified as a "small business," are self-employed, and their trade supports their families and their local economies. Current Executive Orders, as written, are causing both present and lasting harm to these booksellers. I urge you to use the power of your position to influence key decision-makers, with the goal of amending Executive Orders, and other policies, to stop this harm. Sincerely, Jeffrey A. Rothermel President, Independent Online Booksellers Association


We recommend reading this article from the Washington Post by Book Club (Ron Charles):




If you're an independent online bookseller, consider joining us. With a larger membership, we have a louder voice to advocate for better policies for the book trade.


If you're a concerned citizen, please support independent booksellers. They are navigating uncertainty right now and could use your help!


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Independent Online Booksellers Association (IOBA)

 
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