Importing from China to Canada: Duties, Rules and Steps

Start with the product, intended use and destination

This guide covers sourcing from China for delivery to Canada. Sources were checked on 2026-10-18; recheck applicable requirements before paying or shipping.

CBSA defines commercial goods as goods imported for business use, resale or work. A small quantity does not by itself make an order personal.

For personal purchases, ask the postal operator or courier about clearance and charges. Personal imports remain subject to applicable consumer-product safety prohibitions.

Before requesting quotes, specify the material, function, intended user, quantity, packaging and delivery location. Check each destination's requirements separately.

Commercial registration: business number, import account and CARM

CBSA's commercial-import guidance requires a business number, an RM import program account and an account in the CARM Client Portal. Check the importing entity against your purchase documents.

Non-resident importers must obtain their business number from the Canada Revenue Agency before registering in CARM.

If using a customs broker, arrange delegation in CARM. Release Prior to Payment (RPP) requires enrolment and financial security; release after full accounting and payment is another option.

Duties and GST: build the calculation from the Canadian tariff

Duty depends on classification, origin and tariff treatment. The 2026 country table lists China as eligible for Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) treatment, not a universal percentage.

Use the tariff version applicable to the import. Separately check surtaxes and Special Import Measures Act (SIMA) measures.

CBSA excludes transport costs from the established place of direct shipment to Canada from value for duty. Keep evidence of actual costs supporting deductions.

Request a landed-cost worksheet separating goods, inspection or testing, freight, insurance, customs charges, brokerage and final delivery.

Product safety and labels: identify the applicable requirements

Products covered by the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act must meet applicable regulatory requirements to be imported. Identify the product category and obtain evidence for the actual model.

Health Canada states that plug-in electrical products must meet Canadian national safety standards and be certified by an accredited certification body. Check for a Canadian certification mark, such as CSA, cUL or cETL, and verify the model's certification. CSA is one option, not a universal requirement for all imports.

Covered prepackaged non-food consumer products generally require product identity, net quantity, and the dealer's name and principal place of business. Mandatory information must generally be in English and French; the dealer's name and address may use either language. Exemptions exist, and Quebec has additional French-language requirements.

Approve label artwork and compliance evidence before production. Specify sample-based inspection and regulatory testing separately.

Shipping from China: compare the gateway and the onward journey

The Prince Rupert Port Authority's Fairview page lists a rotation through Yantian, Shanghai, Busan, Yokohama, Prince Rupert and Vancouver. Another connects Yantian, Hong Kong, Ningbo and Shanghai with Prince Rupert.

These published rotations identify gateways to investigate, not guaranteed booking options. The authority also describes CN rail connections to central Canada.

Request a quote to the final address covering the gateway, transshipment, inland transport, destination handling and clearance responsibilities. Compare air or courier options where appropriate.

Confirm current sailings, cargo acceptance, inland connections and quote validity with the carrier or forwarder. Do not infer a door-to-door delivery promise from a port rotation.

Pay Chinese suppliers with checks and agreed milestones

Verify the contracting business and proposed beneficiary. Agree specifications, samples, acceptance criteria, delivery responsibilities, remedies and payment stages in writing.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre recommends verbal authentication for urgent requests or payment-detail changes. Independently verify changes using contact details you already trust.

If considering a letter of credit, discuss document requirements with your bank first. ICC explains that banks deal with documents rather than the goods or performance they represent. Do not use a credit as a substitute for supplier checks or inspection.

Resolve supplier identity, product requirements and acceptance evidence before agreeing a large advance payment. Keep contracts, invoices, payment confirmations and inspection records together.

Order-to-clearance steps and common mistakes

Define the goods and use; check admissibility; establish the importer and applicable accounts; confirm classification, valuation and taxes; then approve the supplier, sample and written order.

Before shipment, review inspection results, labels and compliance evidence. Confirm the invoice, packing and transport information, any required permits or certificates, and release and payment arrangements with your broker or CBSA.

Avoid treating business-use goods as personal, assuming one duty rate, delaying bilingual-label checks or accepting changed bank details without independent verification.

For an inclusive delivery quote, establish in writing who will be the importer of record and who will provide customs records.

One short comparison: customs value and VAT in the UK

Under HMRC's transaction-value guidance, UK customs value includes relevant transport, insurance, loading and handling to the UK border. Import VAT valuation also includes applicable import duties and charges, incidental expenses to the first UK destination, and qualifying onward-destination expenses, without counting costs twice.

Check each destination separately. See our China-to-UK import guide, Egypt guide and Saudi Arabia guide; their requirements do not establish Canada's rules.

How Cambridge China Bridge helps

Prepare a brief covering the product, market, quantity, budget, delivery location and existing supplier information. Request a written scope and deliverables.

Review factory verification and small-order sourcing, then confirm which supplier checks, sample coordination and inspection arrangements your quote covers.

Confirm inspection, testing and third-party fees in writing before proceeding; do not assume they are included.

Include Canadian product requirements in the brief and agree who will obtain specialist advice, arrange testing and handle customs clearance.

Official sources and review date

Sources were checked on 2026-10-18. The original publication date and table's reference date are 2026-10-17. Recheck the applicable tariff version, trade measures, product requirements and sailing before shipment. The ICC Academy article supports the documentary-credit explanation; the original ICC library link is retained as a reference.