Clearit.ca's Blog on Customs Brokerage and News Updates

Importing goods from one country to another comes with a lot of complexity—managing documents, ensuring compliance, calculating duties and tariffs, and dealing with customs. It’s a lot for any business owner to handle, especially when you’re already focused on important daily activities like developing new products, nurturing relationships with customers, and running marketing campaigns. Adding the intricacies of international shipping to y...

With vast natural resources and a strong industrial base, Canada engages in extensive international trade, both exporting and importing goods that fuel its economy. In 2023 alone, Canada’s exports crossed the $768 billion threshold, while imports rose by 1.4%, reaching $770.2 billion. These numbers reflect Canada’s unique position in the global market. The country exports a wide range of natural resources and locally produced goods, while ...

In 2023, the value of Canada’s annual imports rose 1.4% to an impressive $770.2 billion. These goods made their way across the border on trucks and carriers each day, with large items like cars and furniture moving through customs together with scores of smaller goods, like clothing, toys, and handheld electronics. With such a high volume of items and containers all facing the same bottleneck, even the slightest issue could lead to delays in cu...

A customs broker, also known as a customs agent or customs services provider, acts as an intermediary between importers/exporters and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). They handle the complex customs clearance process, ensuring all paperwork, duties, and taxes are accurately completed and submitted, facilitating smooth and efficient cross-border transactions. In addition to managing customs declarations, a customs broker provides strat...

When you import goods into Canada, you must include a Certificate of Origin that clearly states the shipment’s Country of Origin. Local authorities use this certificate to determine any tariffs on your goods before they’re released from Canadian customs.  While listing your shipment’s Country of Origin may seem straightforward, it’s far from reality, and incorrectly listing the country of origin can lead to penalties like delays in cl...

Have you ever taken a quick trip to Plattsburgh to stock up on your favorite American snacks or hit the outlet malls for unbeatable deals? Maybe you’ve just returned from visiting family in Europe with a suitcase full of souvenirs. Whatever the reason for your travels, bringing back goodies to Canada can be exciting, but it can also come with a few hoops to jump through at customs. This guide is for all the avid shoppers who love to pick up ...

As an importer, your goal is to deliver exactly what your Canadian customers want. That said, Canada takes the safety, security, and well-being of its citizens seriously. As a result, several categories of goods are prohibited or restricted from entering the country.  To avoid penalties like fines, seizures, or prosecution, you need to know which items are banned and ensure all necessary permits are obtained. Understanding these regulations m...

If you’re a business importing a variety of goods into Canada—electronics, clothing, maybe even some specialty foods—the following scenario is likely all too familiar. As your shipment arrives, you’re suddenly faced with a slew of taxes. You see GST on some items, HST on others, and in certain provinces, PST comes into play too. It can be confusing to figure out which tax applies to which products and how much you need to pay for each. Wi...

If you are a Canadian importer, or a U.S. exporter looking to receive or ship vehicles to Canada, you might be surprised to find out that this process is not as easy as 1-2-3. In fact, it’s a very long and drawn out, multistage process. We've simplified the intricate process of transporting a vehicle from the U.S. to Canada into five easy steps. While there is a wealth of detailed information available from official sources like Transport Ca...

With school out, vacation plans in full swing, and countless milestones to celebrate, Canadian e-commerce businesses are busy in summer. People are shopping online for everything from trip essentials to fun activities for their kids during heatwaves, and yes, getting a jump on back-to-school supplies. In 2023 alone, e-commerce businesses in Canada recorded close to 12 billion Canadian dollars in sales from June through August. But with this su...