With a population of 37.6 million and 3,855,100 square miles of land, Canada is easily one of the world’s leading economic forces. Due to its stability, continual economic growth, and sound financial policies, Canada is a land of opportunities for importers. Therefore, if you wish to import to Canada from the US or Latin America. So, to help you out, we will cover the basics of how to import to Canada from countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Peru, or China.
As one of the driving forces in the world economy, Canada’s market is quite developed in various areas. As reported by the U.S. Trade Administration, notable industries include:
The other notable sectors for import include agriculture, defense equipment, medical devices, and education.
Canada is a large territory, with thousands of kilometers separating its main cities such as Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto. Therefore we would recommend that you select a specific region to explore whether there is a suitable market for the products you are planning to import.
While exploring business opportunities for your imports, you should first take a look at the import trade statistics history. Here are the top imports to Canada in 2018 according to the OEC:
As is the case with all countries in the world, there are some challenges when it comes to importing to Canada:
When it comes to restrictions and prohibitions, Canada has a fairly regular system. The following items are not permitted:
It is important to carefully consult Canada’s import guide before importing any products.Â
For customs clearance, there are a couple of things you need to ensure in order to avoid any issues. Whether you are importing as a business or as an individual, a Business Number (B.N.) issued by CRA is required. The process is free and does not take a long time. You will need to call CRA’s Business Window at 1-800-959-5525 or visit their official website. Most of the required documents will depend on the goods you are planning to import.
Certain goods require extensive paperwork in order to clear customs, therefore, you should obtain them in advance. The type of goods and country of origin from when you are importing will also have a substantial impact on your tariffs.
Due to documentation, taxes, and import duties, we highly recommend that you hire a customs broker, to help you in the clearing process.
The most important document that you will need to have for all imports to Canada, is a Canada Customs Invoice, or a commercial invoice containing all the required information by the customs authorities. Apart from that, you will also need to have the following:
Finally, if you are importing to Canada from the U.S. or any other country, you will need to keep in mind that Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) eManifest program requires importers in all modes of transportation to transmit all shipping information (cargo, conveyance, house bill, supplemental reports, release documentation) in advance in order to facilitate the customs clearance process.
When it comes to transporting goods to and within Canada, there are many options available. Road, rail, sea, and air are all viable modes of transportation, depending on what you want to transport and from where.
If you plan to import from Mexico and the US, the most common mode of transportation is usually by ground. Therefore, it is recommendable to partner with a freight forwarder that specializes in cargo trucking and knows how to deal with the complexities that may arise when transporting goods from a country such as Mexico.
Latin American Cargo has been offering ground transportation solutions for the last 2 decades. During this time we have developed a network of reliable carriers that know how to maximize fleet productivity, in order to ensure faster, safer, and smarter cargo transportation.
With all this in mind, it should be evident that importing to Canada can be a good business decision. However, it is imperative that you find the right shipping partner to ensure that your importation from countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, or Chile will be a total success. Â
Get the latest news on the latin american import/export market
If you are planning to ship your vehicle overseas and don’t know where to [...]
Why real time big data analytics in the maritime and shipping industry matters? [...]
Latin American Cargo (LAC) has recently hit another milestone of a successful sh [...]