You’ve found a customer for your amazing product, but you’re in the United States and they’re in Canada. You want to sell the items and send them, but you’ve read about the USMCA, commercial invoicing, customs clearance, tariffs and the storage fees that might be incurred if your shipment to Canada fails. The following are some tips to make things easier and less stressful.

Here are a few crucial things to know:

• A Customs Broker is required for all exports to and from Canada

• A Bill of Lading and a Canadian Commercial Invoice are required (CCI)

• The value of the shipment must be stated on the Commercial Invoice

• The receiver is responsible for paying the fees

• National holidays in Canada differ from those in the United States

Commercial items can be shipped to Canada by ocean carriers or air freight firms. Each has advantages and disadvantages, some of which are detailed below.

Shipping to Canada via Ocean

1) LCL (less than container load): You don’t have to charter an entire container to move your goods to Canada. LCL shipping allows you to send your products in a shared container. This could be the most cost-effective option to sends maller loads.

2) Full Container Load (FCL): This type of international shipping necessitates the rental of a whole container to convey your cargo. It allows firms to seal their containers at the point of origin and keep them sealed until they reach their intended receiver in Canada. FCL shipment is both faster and less expensive than LCL shipping.

Canada Air Freight

Air freight is the quickest option to convey your products, whether it’s by a direct cargo-only aircraft or indirect passenger services. However, it is by far the most costly option.

Using the Services of a Customs Broker

A Customs Broker is required for all exports to and from Canada. The Customs Broker is in charge of negotiating the customs process and clearing products to enter another nation. Most firms that often send freight into Canada already have a Customs Broker.

How long does it take to ship cargo from the United States to Canada?

The distance between your selected harbour or airport of origin and Canada will, of course, impact shipping time. In general, air cargo from a large international airport anywhere on the globe will take between two and eight days to arrive at its destination in Canada.

Ocean shipping is more time-consuming. Cargo ships delivering containers to Canada travel at a pace of 35 kilometers per hour on average. As a result, goods might take anywhere from 11 to 53 days to reach their destination in Canada. The type of container you choose (FCL or LCL) also has an impact on travel time.

Customs Clearance for Imports into Canada

Customs requirements must be followed by all business shippers attempting to import products into Canada. Many firms engage a Freight Forwarder to handle the procedure since it can be complex. Businesses may avoid unnecessary shipping delays and guarantee that their shipments comply with Canadian customs requirements by enlisting the help of specialists.

Even when working with international shipping professionals, a company must still prepare and submit specific paperwork. The following are the most common documentation required by Canadian customs officials:

Packing List for Commercial Invoices

• Letter of Credit, Certificate of Origin, or other payment terms (depends on the contract between the parties involved)
• Ocean Freight Bill of Lading or Air Freight Bill of Lading and Freight Invoice