Congressman Bill Owens is asking the Canadian government to raise the limit on what their citizens can bring across the border tax-free after less than 24 hours abroad.

Owens’ request, in a letter this morning to Canadian Minister of Finance James M. Flaherty and Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews, urges the government to match the exemption levels the U.S. currently has for its residents who travel abroad.

Earlier this month, the Canadian government announced plans to raise the amount that Canadian residents traveling abroad can claim tax-free at the border from $50 to $200 after 24 hours and from $400 to $800 after 48 hours, effective June 1. Owens applauded the announcement, but is calling on the Canadian government to match the U.S. exemption that residents can claim after traveling abroad for less than 24 hours.

“It is important to the region’s economy that New York businesses have a level playing field when they’re competing for Canadian consumers,” said Owens. “Canadian shoppers should enjoy the same exemptions at the border that Americans do.”