Why is this levied by some US sellers and not all?
As was explained to the OP before, although he does not seem to understand, some US sellers use the new Global Shipping Program to protect themselves in international transactions. The program is voluntary.
Why are import charges not levied on purchases from other countries?
The GSP is only available to US sellers. Other nationalities are aware of borders, differing currencies, shipping times,and are emotionally capable of dealing with them. Americans ...... well.... The GSP is meant to encourage US sellers to ship internationally, now that the US market is close to saturated for eBay sellers.
when I ask sellers to remove the import charges, they can?
The program is voluntary. EBay actually suggests that it not be used on transactions under $50.
in those 13 years, I have had to pay import charges perhaps three times.
Canada Post and CBSA can charge duty, tax and service/customs brokerage fees on any parcel. That they usually don't probably has a negative impact on the bottom lines of both Canada Post ($10 a pop not collected) and the national deficit.
Private companies like UPS (notoriously) and Pitney Bowes, which runs the GSP, must collect these duties and taxes and are allowed to collect a fee ( UPS $25 up , PB $5 up) for this service.
Write your Member of Parliament and ask her to push for import limits for shipped goods be raised from the current $20 to the $200 that cross-border shoppers can import. You don't need a stamp on the envelope and the postal code of the House of Commons is K1A 0A6.
