FedEx has introduced a new app on Shopify named FedEx Duty and Tax, which promises to minimise the occurrence of unexpected import fees for online shoppers. The app, available for $99 a month, provides customers with a duty and tax guarantee at checkout, ensuring that FedEx covers any costs that exceed the amount shown. This initiative is part of the company’s broader effort to improve the transparency and predictability of international shipping costs.
More Than Just an App
FedEx Duty and Tax is a component of a larger suite called Global Trade Navigator, unveiled by FedEx to enhance the international shipping process. This suite offers a range of digital tools designed to assist merchants throughout the shipping journey, from preparing necessary customs documentation to tracking parcels and analysing post-delivery reports.
In addition to offering duty and tax guarantees, Global Trade Navigator includes FedEx Trade Planner. This tool helps businesses accurately determine Harmonized System codes, estimate duties, and specify necessary customs documents by accepting inputs like product descriptions, URLs, or images.
Market Context and Competitor Insights
As global trade dynamics evolve, the complexity of managing tariffs and customs regulations poses significant challenges for traders. According to FedEx, unexpected fees have been a major concern, with 68% of small- and medium-sized enterprises admitting that their customers often face surprise charges, based on data from the 2026 FedEx Small Business Trade Index.
FedEx isn’t alone in addressing these issues. UPS launched its own solution, UPS Global Checkout, last year, which also guarantees the total landed cost at the time of purchase. Zonos, a technology platform specialising in cross-border trade, provides a Duty and Tax app on Shopify that automatically calculates and reconciles duties during checkout.
Commitment to Customer Experience
Jason Brenner, FedEx’s senior vice president of digital portfolio, emphasised that the Duty and Tax app is designed to streamline cross-border transactions and enhance the recipient’s experience. While FedEx’s current focus is on Shopify, Brenner hinted at possible future expansions to other platforms.
Further tools in FedEx’s suite aim to simplify international shipping to levels comparable with home deliveries. The Global Trade APIs, for instance, offer functionalities for obtaining Harmonized System codes and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. These applications, aimed at both small businesses and larger enterprises, are already in a trial phase with select customers, and according to Brenner, the early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, reflecting FedEx’s commitment to improving shipping processes worldwide.
Reporting based on coverage first published by retaildive.com.