FAQs When Shipping From China To Canada For Importers

1. How do duties/import fees and taxes work for my product?

Depending on your products, you will have to pay some kind of taxes that can be mentioned as MFN (Most Favoured Nation) and GST (Goods and Services Tax) counted on your whole goods value. 

However, there are a few goods that are not subject to GST (e.g. prescription drugs, medical devices and aids, basic groceries, fishing and agricultural goods, etc.)

Depending on the type of goods you will be shipping, you can look up the specific amount of duty you need to pay on the CBSA Custom Tariff website.

2. What is the delivery time of different types of shipping methods?

The time will depend on the shipping method and other factors that may affect it faster or slower. Here are the frame times you can refer to:

• The fastest method is using air freight. It normally takes 1-4 days in transit time and 4-11 days to deliver to end-user.
• Another choice is using sea freight. When you use FCL and LCL sea freight, the transit time is around 14-25 days. 
• Express option will usually take 2-5 days to reach the final destination.

3. What costs do I need to pay during my shipment?

The value of your goods. The price to pay for the types of freight transport that you choose. And some other fees such as service fees, taxes, etc. To help you get the exact amount to pay, you should talk to the shipping company to get advice on reasonable solutions at the most affordable prices.

4. How many sea freight pathways I can deliver my shipment?

Two sea lanes can be based on your final destination. The first lane is the Pacific route. Your goods can start from a Chinese port through the Pacific Ocean to a port in western Canada. The second one is the Atlantic route, eastern Canada will be the destination for your goods.

5. Which Incoterms can I use when shipping from China to Canada?

When shipping from China, FOB is considered the most used. Once the goods are loaded onboard the ship, all costs and risks are transferred from the seller to the buyer. You can also use many common Incorterms such as EWX, CFR, CIF, DDP, and DPU.

6. Are there any types of goods I should avoid?

You should note to avoid importing certain goods from China to Canada due to government regulations such as pornographic materials, coins, counterfeit goods, goods produced by prisoners, used mattresses, white phosphorus matches, reactionary items, used motor vehicles, some kinds of foods or hazardous goods.

7. Are there any tips to optimize costs during shipment?

You should consider the quantity and nature of the goods to choose the appropriate freight method. Arrange your goods to consolidate with other goods for LCL shipping to optimize costs if your goods are few. Plan transportation in advance for high-priority goods. 

You should also ask your freight forwarding partner to help you optimize the cost because they have rich experience and know what are the shortest routes.

8. How can I decide which appropriate port for my shipment?

Start from China. If your goods are located in the capital Beijing or Hebei, you can choose the two nearest ports, Tianjin and Qingdao. The provinces closest to Shanghai and Zhejiang such as Anhui, and Jiangxi can choose Shanghai Port or Ningbo Port. The provinces closer to the South of China can choose Xiamen Port or Shenzhen Port.

If your goods’ destination is in western Canada, Vancouver or Prince Rupert should be ideal. Conversely, if it is in eastern Canada, you can choose Montreal or Halifax Port.

9. How will my goods be picked up and delivered?

A freight forwarder will pick up the goods at any location you specify. Depending on the quantity and weight of the goods, the freight forward will find the optimal method to pick up the goods such as FCL shipment, LCL shipment, or OOG shipment.

About the delivery, your choice of Incoterm is an important factor that will determine the means of transportation and the place to end the responsibility to deliver goods.

10. List forms that are necessary during my shipment.

Here are the required documents that you need to prepare:

• Commercial Invoice: This is a document requiring the importer to pay the exact amount stated in the agreement to the exporter.
• Packing List: This is a document with full information about the goods that the seller has sold to the buyer, from which the buyer has a basis to compare and check the quality, code, and quantity according to the order.

If you transport by sea, you also need to have a Bill of Lading. In addition, there may be other necessary documents depending on the requirements such as Certificate of Origin, Permits and Licences, Insurance Certificate, etc.

11. Can I track my goods when shipping?

The freight forwarder will provide you with tools to track the progress of your shipment. Some of the information you can track includes the exact location of your shipment with images of the route, the estimated delivery date of your shipment, and updates on whether the shipment has reached its final destination.

12. What are the reasons why my shipment is not delivered on time?

Some reasons why your shipping may be delayed include:

•  Trouble with customs clearance because you do not prepare the necessary documents completely and accurately
•  Bad weather conditions such as storms will affect the departure time
•  Shipping goods during peak shipping times will cause congestion of goods and take longer to process