Orbit Brokers

Importing Into Canada During the Holidays

As the holiday season approaches, many businesses are preparing to stock their shelves for a burst of shoppers in the coming weeks. But what does that mean for businesses that rely on selling imported products? Importing products now means you’ll experience less stress and be better prepared for when the busy season commences.

Here’s what you need to know as an importer when it comes to planning for the holidays:

A Canadian Customs Broker Will Stress the Importance of Planning Ahead

During such a busy time of year, we can’t stress enough how important it is to plan ahead when importing holiday goods. The sheer quantity of goods being imported offers an initial obstacle, as this increases the chances of bottlenecks occurring, either in the origin country, or in Canada. But it’s also important to expect the unexpected, which can come in the form of new fees, weather delays, or worker strikes. Planning ahead by negotiating set shipping rates and keeping track of potential delays will ease your stress levels. Some businesses even go further by factoring in an additional budget for this time of year. We feel that with the right preparation and help, you can feel confident knowing that your imports will arrive safely and securely.

What to Know for First Time Importers

Those of you who have imported to Canada before may know what to expect. But for first-time importers, it’s important to be aware of necessary standards and practices to be best prepared. One thing to keep in mind is that first-time businesses are often subject to additional checks on their shipments. This can take time and cause delays, so newer importers, in particular, should be aware of industry timelines, standards and requirements. For example, articles of clothing typically require that the fabric content is listed, in order of most to least mass. And most people know that imported foods must list their ingredients and nutritional information. But not everyone knows that in Canada, terms like “durable life”, and “filler” have specific, legal definitions that must be met if they are put on a food item’s label.

Canada’s New Free Trade Agreement

Something that’s new this year, for all importers, is CETA, a trade deal between Canada and the European Union. The CETA deal means that taxes on imports from Europe have been drastically reduced, and this is the first holiday season to take advantage. Among the industries that should benefit include food, where items like candy, chocolate, and maple syrup will incur no duty, which had not been the case in previous years. Although many news articles have focused on benefits for food and agriculture, it’s important to note that many costlier goods, like healthcare supplies from contact lenses to dental floss will also see cuts to existing tariffs.

While many believe that CETA represents a big opportunity for importers, such recent changes may lead to some confusion, which only furthers the need to prepare in advance for your imports. A Canadian customs broker can help eliminate some of that confusion, as their industry specifically focuses on trade deals like CETA and the regulatory changes that they bring.

The holiday season brings with it excited shoppers and many others looking to take part in the festivities. With the upcoming season bringing in new travellers and lower tariffs around the world, there couldn’t be a better time to import from abroad to cash in on the holiday fun. As long as you’re prepared, this holiday season should bring nothing but cheer. Contact a Canadian customs broker at Orbit Brokers today to help with your holiday imports!

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