PSA Pauses International Submissions Due to U.S. Tariffs – What Aussie Collectors Need to Know

Posted: April 5, 2025

Big news from the grading world this week – PSA has announced a temporary pause on all grading submissions from outside the United States, including Australia. This update follows new U.S. tariff regulations announced on Wednesday, April 2, and is expected to impact thousands of international collectors and businesses, including us here in Australia.

❗ What’s Changed?

As of now, PSA will no longer accept direct grading submissions to their U.S. headquarters from international customers via PSAcard.com. This includes all countries outside of the United States, expanding on earlier restrictions that only applied to Canada, China, Hong Kong, and Mexico.

According to PSA, this decision is being made to protect international customers from hefty new tariffs, which are now being applied based on the value of the items in your submission – not the service fee.

For example:

These tariffs would be in addition to grading fees and shipping, which makes submitting directly from Australia currently uneconomical for most collectors.

🌏 What Can Aussies Do Now?

✅ What Still Works:

• If your cards are already with PSA in the U.S. as of April 4, they’ll be processed normally.

• Cards can be stored in the PSA Vault in the U.S. to avoid additional return tariffs.

• PSA submissions from Japan and Canada are still being accepted through localized submission centres.

  • 🇨🇦 Canadian collectors can use the Halifax-based PSA Canada Submission Centre or submit via PSA Authorized Dealers.

  • 🇯🇵 Japanese collectors can submit directly through PSA Japan at PSAcard.co.jp.

❌ What’s Not Available for Australians:

• You can’t submit directly to PSA U.S. via the Online Submission Centre.

• You’ll be financially responsible for any tariffs if you still choose to send cards directly to the U.S.

🔍 What PSA Is Working On

PSA has said they’re actively developing new solutions for collectors outside the U.S., Japan, and Canada. One possible route is allowing more submissions through Authorized Dealers, which may soon become the go-to option for Australian collectors.

They’ve also acknowledged the situation is evolving, and more updates will be shared as they come.

💬 What We Recommend at Jamie’s Trading Cards

Until things settle, here’s what we suggest:

• Hold off on new PSA submissions until an Australian-friendly pathway is announced.

• Explore alternative graders like CGC or Beckett if you need cards graded urgently.

• Keep an eye on our site – we’ll post updates and offer options if we can help with group submissions or PSA-authorized alternatives.

• Grab existing PSA-graded cards – with fewer new ones hitting the market, demand may rise. Check out current graded cards in circulation.

🗣️ Stay Connected

This is a major shake-up, but we’re here to help you navigate it. If you’ve got questions about your current submissions, need grading alternatives, or just want to talk strategy – don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thanks for your ongoing support, and we’ll keep you posted as PSA rolls out more info!