Importing from China is the backbone of thousands of Canadian businesses, and the process is more learnable than it looks. This guide walks the full journey — from your supplier's factory gate to your warehouse door — and flags the points where new importers most often lose time or money.
1. Get your importer setup right first
Before your first container moves, you need three things: a CRA Business Number with an import-export (RM) account, registration in the CBSA's CARM portal (see our CARM guide), and a customs broker authorized to file on your behalf. Allow one to two weeks for the full setup.
2. Agree terms with your supplier (Incoterms matter)
The Incoterm on your purchase agreement decides who books freight and who carries risk. Most China–Canada importers buy FOB (Free On Board) — the supplier delivers goods loaded on the vessel at the Chinese port, and you control the ocean freight and everything after. Avoid agreeing to CIF blindly: when the seller controls the freight, surprise destination charges are common.
3. Book the freight: FCL or LCL
A full container (FCL) is yours alone — 20', 40', or 40' high-cube. Less-than-container-load (LCL) shares space with other shippers and is priced per cubic metre. The rule of thumb: above roughly 13–15 cubic metres, FCL usually wins on both cost and handling risk. Typical ocean transit: 14–22 days to Vancouver, 28–35 days to Montreal (check your lane with the lane checker).
Packing List — cartons, weights, dimensions per item
Bill of Lading — the contract of carriage and title document
Certificate of Origin — if claiming preferential duty under a trade agreement
Permits where applicable — CFIA for food and plant products, ISPM-15 stamps for wood packaging
Vague descriptions ("parts", "gifts") are the #1 cause of customs delays for new importers. Describe goods the way a customs officer needs to read them.
5. Understand what you'll pay at the border
Three layers apply to most China-origin goods: customs duty (rate set by the HS classification of your product — many goods are duty-free, some are not), GST (5% on the duty-paid value), and for certain categories — notably steel and aluminum — surtaxes or SIMA anti-dumping duties that can dwarf regular duty. Getting the HS code right before you commit to a purchase is the single highest-value compliance step; see our steel page for the highest-risk category.
6. Clearance and delivery
A good broker files your CAD entry before the vessel berths, so CBSA has processed it by the time containers discharge. After release, the container is picked up from the terminal (drayage), delivered direct, or transloaded for rail or LTL to inland destinations. Watch the free-time clock at the terminal — our demurrage guide covers how fees stack up and how to avoid them.
First-time importer checklist
Business Number with RM import account — done?
CARM portal registered, broker delegated
Incoterm agreed in writing with supplier
HS classification reviewed before purchase commitment
Document set requested from supplier before sailing
Delivery address, dock hours, and equipment needs confirmed
Educational overview only — rates, programs, and CBSA requirements change. Verify current rules for your specific goods, or ask us and we'll check against today's tariff.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a customs broker to import into Canada?▼
Legally, no — a resident importer can self-clear with CBSA. In practice, commercial importers use a licensed broker because pre-arrival filing, CARM accounting, and tariff classification are hard to run part-time, and errors surface as reassessments long after the goods arrive. If you self-clear, you still need your own Business Number, CARM registration, and a way to account for duties.
Is there a free trade agreement between Canada and China?▼
No. China-origin goods enter Canada at Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) tariff rates — many tariff items are duty-free at MFN, others are not, and certain categories (notably steel and aluminum) can attract SIMA anti-dumping duties or surtaxes on top. Check the rate for your specific 10-digit classification before committing to a purchase, because "made in China" alone tells you nothing about the duty bill.
Do I have to pay GST when importing goods into Canada?▼
Yes — 5% GST is assessed on the duty-paid value of commercial imports at the time of accounting. If your business is GST-registered, that import GST is generally recoverable as an input tax credit on your return, so for most registrants it's a cash-flow item rather than a true cost. Provincial sales tax is a separate question that depends on your province and what you do with the goods.
How long does it take to import from China to Canada door to door?▼
Ocean transit is only part of the answer — after the vessel arrives you still need terminal discharge, customs release, and final delivery, so door-to-door typically runs one to several weeks longer than the sailing time alone. The variables that stretch it are CBSA exams, terminal congestion, and rail availability, none of which run on a fixed schedule. Filing the customs entry before arrival is the one step that reliably takes clearance off the critical path.
What happens if CBSA selects my container for examination?▼
CBSA can refer any shipment for inspection, from a document review to a full de-stuff exam, and the goods wait until it's done. The importer generally bears the exam-related handling and transport fees charged by the facility — even when nothing is found — and terminal free-time clocks usually keep running in the meantime. Clean, specific goods descriptions and consistent paperwork are the best defence against repeat referrals.
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