03-13-2010, 12:27 AM
Goods made in the U.S. or Mexico can come into Canada duty-free, although there's a limit on the amounts of alcohol and tobacco. All is subject to the Federal GST (Goods and Services Tax) beyond your duty-free exemption. That rate is currently 5%, figured on the Canadian-dollar equivalent of the purchase price. Once the HST comes into effect, that rate will increase to 13%. Products from countries other than NAFTA members are subject to varying duties based on the country of origin and the particular item. For instance, children's clothing from Hong Kong may be at a different rate than tires from Hong Kong, and at a different rate again from tires or children's clothing from China.
Back in the '70s, I used to buy a lot of mail order train stuff from the U.S. The procedure then was that I would get a card in the mail instructing me that I had a package at Canada Customs, located at that time in the main Post Office in Hamilton. To claim the package, I had to go in person to watch them open it, after which they went over the enclosed invoice to determine the duty and taxes owing - there was no GST or provincial tax at that time, but there were other Federal taxes payable and, of course, the duty. One guy asked why I bothered ordering all this stuff from the States, as I might pay between $35.00 and $50.00 on a $100.00 order. I answered him with the question of what Canadian business was being protected by the duties levied, as there was virtually no model railroad industry in this country. He didn't have an answer, and I didn't give him mine, but even after paying the duty and taxes, my final cost was about half of what it would have been had I bought the same goods here.
Wayne
Back in the '70s, I used to buy a lot of mail order train stuff from the U.S. The procedure then was that I would get a card in the mail instructing me that I had a package at Canada Customs, located at that time in the main Post Office in Hamilton. To claim the package, I had to go in person to watch them open it, after which they went over the enclosed invoice to determine the duty and taxes owing - there was no GST or provincial tax at that time, but there were other Federal taxes payable and, of course, the duty. One guy asked why I bothered ordering all this stuff from the States, as I might pay between $35.00 and $50.00 on a $100.00 order. I answered him with the question of what Canadian business was being protected by the duties levied, as there was virtually no model railroad industry in this country. He didn't have an answer, and I didn't give him mine, but even after paying the duty and taxes, my final cost was about half of what it would have been had I bought the same goods here.
Wayne
I've been searching eBay a lot the past couple of days looking for deals.