eBay Removes Option To Enter "Unknown" Country Of Origin Item Specifics Amidst Global Tariff Turmoil
eBay sellers are suddenly unable to select "unknown" for Country of Origin / Manufacture Item Specifics, likely due to shifting global tariff and import requirements.
UNKNOWN no longer an option for Country/Region of Manufacture
I don't know if this is a glitch, or we are just being forced to "guess", but I am no longer able to choose UNKNOWN as an option for Country/Region of Manufacture. I deal mostly in vintage items, and with some, I have absolutely no idea where it was made. I don't want to have to guess.
No more "Unknown" Country/Region of Manufacture?
As far as I can tell, this is a change made in the last few hours at most, but I no longer see "Unknown" as a choice in the Country/Region of Manufacture Item Specific, at least in the Books category where it previously was an option.
Not all books state the location they were manufactured in (and "Published In" doesn't always mean the same thing), so we used that often, whenever it wasn't clear. Is anyone else noticing the same change?
Edit: it's not a required item specific, but I do worry that it will have an impact on international sales as that can factor into customs and tariffs.
In categories where it's not a required Item Specific, it appears that sellers are still able to simply leave that field blank, but some say they are stuck in situations where the correct answer isn't an option but they worry that not filling it in may impact their ability to sell the item internationally.
For example, eBay apparently doesn't realize that the United Kingdom and England are related, but synonymous, locations.
I try to list some China plates that are marked "England", but eBay doesn't have that in the dropdown menu, you're forced to use "United Kingdom".
The removal of the "unknown" option is likely related to recent and potentially upcoming tariff changes across the globe where eBay may be required to collect customs and duties based on where items are manufactured, not just where they are shipping from.
For example, earlier this year, eBay paused Global Shipping Programme service from the UK to the US and sellers report being told by support they will need to fill in "made in" Country of Origin/Manufacture information for GSP to be re-enabled on their listings - and "unknown" is no longer an option there either.
Liz Morton
The UK government has also recently launched a review of their de minimis Low Value Import rules, which could mean updates to customs and duty requirements for items shipping into the UK could be coming soon as well.
Liz Morton
As other countries grapple with their own trade and tariff policies, Country of Origin data will become even more crucial for cross border trade - and it won't be surprising if eBay eventually moves this item specific from "suggested" to "required" in certain categories.
Which categories are you no longer seeing "unknown" available for Country of Origin? Let us know in the comments below!
