I am quite surprised by someone being charged duty because this is wrong. What classification did they label the product as? It doesn't have to be antique, just made in the USA and there should be no duty. This arrangement came along with "free trade". Now, normally we are charged Provincial Sales Tax (PST) and Goods and Service Tax (GST) and a handling fee but no duty. If I was importing something through the US then there could be duty.
