The U.S. has seen a sudden resurgence of consumer spending as of late. Business expenditures have seemed to rise along consumer spending as well. Due to the boost in the economy, many economists are happy to see a jump in export volumes. Many businesses have upped their export plans and began to expand their sales to Canada – the number one export market for U.S. companies.

While sharing a common border, the U.S. and Canada have many commonalities. The two countries share the world’s largest trading relationship. With $632 billion in two-way trading over 2013 – Canada accounts for 19% of all U.S. exports. This is because Canada offers many opportunities for U.S. businesses.

Why Canada

As the U.S. and Canada are so close geographically, many similarities in people, culture, language and more make trading easier. Not to mention – the close shipping channels between the two. This makes Canada the easiest and often, the most lucrative export market for many U.S. businesses.

Canada offers U.S. exporters a market of nearly 35 million people. Nearly 75% of these 35 million individuals live within 100 miles of the U.S. border. Plus, exporting to Canada is simple with the help of the right international trade brokers. Over 300 billion U.S. goods are transferred into Canada every year.

How to Enter Canada as a U.S. Exporter

While there are a number of ways to export to Canada for U.S. businesses, the easiest way is to look into non-resident importer status. This option is often the biggest advantage U.S. businesses have when selling goods in Canada.

Non-Resident Importer

A non-resident importer is just a company who ships goods into Canada, but doesn’t have a physical presence in Canada. This company is considered the Importer of Record for their shipments. This allows the company to control the customs release process and the cost associated with their products entering Canada in a quick and low-cost manner. This means products can be sold with a delivery price that is all-inclusive. A Canadian customer simply orders a product, pays, and then waits for it to be delivered. Non-resident importer keeps things simple.

Non-Resident Importer Benefits

There are a number of benefits for U.S. exporters who claim non-resident importer status. Here are a few:

  • Simplicity.
  • Removing border hassles and extra fees.
  • Ability to guarantee prices.
  • Ability to work with large retailers.
  • Easy customs process.
  • Put yourself on an even playing field with Canadian businesses.
  • Utilize Canadian trade agreements.

…And much more!

A Beginners Guide to Exporting into Canada

If you’re new to exporting in Canada, you’ll want to educate yourself before beginning the process. An intelligent and educated expert will save his or her business a lot of money in customs fees through proper research. Understanding the Canadian supply chain party process, compliance, other considerations, documents, free trade deals, and more will go a long way to ensuring your business is successful in Canada.