How to import from China to Canada

What you can import

Clothing, bags, footwear, housewares, furniture, packaging, phone and computer accessories, tools, auto parts, lighting, sporting goods and office supplies are all common imports from China, and most need no permit.

Some products are regulated by other departments, which the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) enforces at the border:

• Consumer products, toys, children's items and cosmetics must meet Health Canada rules under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, and cosmetics must be notified to Health Canada.
• Radio devices (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, wireless chargers) need certification under Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) standards.
• Food and plant or animal products fall under the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA); wooden packaging must be heat-treated and marked.
• Consumer goods need labelling in English and French, and textiles need fibre content labels. Counterfeits, weapons and some used goods are prohibited or controlled. Check with your customs authority for regulated goods.

Canadian duty and GST/HST in 2026

Duty rates are set in the Customs Tariff. Goods from China pay the Most-Favoured-Nation rate, which is zero for many electronics and tools and typically around 6% to 18% for items like clothing, footwear and bags. CUSMA preferences do not apply to goods made in China, even if they pass through the United States.

On top of duty, 5% GST is charged on the value plus duty, and in harmonised provinces (such as Ontario and the Atlantic provinces) HST replaces it. A GST/HST registrant can usually claim this back as an input tax credit. Canada also applies surtaxes to some Chinese goods, notably steel, aluminium and electric vehicles, so check whether your product is affected.

Since the CBSA's CARM system went live, commercial importers account for and pay duties through the CARM Client Portal using their Business Number, with financial security if they want release before payment.

• A commercial invoice, packing list and the air waybill or bill of lading are needed, with a tariff classification for each product.
• Low-value thresholds for couriers are for small casual shipments and do not change the duty owed on a wholesale order.
• Declaring a lower value than you paid is an offence and can lead to penalties under the Administrative Monetary Penalty System.

How DDP delivery removes the hassle

DDP means delivered duty paid. With soorce, the price at checkout includes freight from China, Canadian customs clearance, the duty and the GST or HST due on import. Our logistics partner clears the shipment and delivers to your door, so you do not need a CARM account, a customs broker or security for that delivery, and no extra charge is collected when it arrives.

We also check the supplier and inspect the goods in China before shipping. DDP covers getting the goods into Canada; making sure they can be sold here, with bilingual labels, Health Canada compliance or ISED certification where needed, stays with you.

Air or sea freight: which one pays off

Air freight is billed on actual or volumetric weight (length × width × height in cm ÷ 6,000), whichever is higher. It is the right choice for samples, urgent restocks and goods with a high value per kilo, such as accessories, cosmetics or small electronics.

Sea freight is cheaper per kilo and goes through the Pacific ports to your door. It suits heavier and bulkier goods with lower value per kilo, such as furniture, kitchenware, fitness equipment and packaging. Sea lines bill from a minimum weight, so a very small order may cost about the same as air.

The box below shows soorce's current door-to-door prices to Canada, duties and taxes included, for a few sample weights.

Worked example: 500 insulated lunch bags to Toronto

Suppose you order 500 insulated lunch bags at $2.20 each, $1,100 of goods, weighing about 60 kg packed. The table prices this order at today's rates by air and by sea, with Canadian duty and GST/HST already included in the shipping line.

Divide the delivered total by 500 for your landed cost per bag, then compare it with Canadian wholesale. Weight and volume are confirmed after packing in China, so the final amount can move slightly.

How to order on soorce, step by step

1. Search or browse factory products. Each product page shows the price per piece, the minimum quantity and the delivered price to Canada.
2. Add quantities to your cart. Orders start from 100 pieces or $1,000; a smaller order can be sent as a request and our team will tell you if it can go ahead.
3. At checkout choose air or sea, enter your Canadian delivery address and pay securely online at checkout. Prices are in US dollars.
4. We confirm with the factory, check the supplier and inspect the goods before they leave China, with photos if anything needs your decision.
5. The shipment clears Canadian customs with duty and GST/HST paid and is delivered to your door. Follow each stage from your account.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming CUSMA duty-free rates apply because goods came through the US. Made in China means MFN rates.
• Forgetting French on labels and packaging for consumer products.
• Ignoring the surtaxes on Chinese steel and aluminium goods when pricing.
• Ordering wireless products without ISED certification, or cosmetics without Health Canada notification.
• Comparing factory prices with local prices before adding freight, duty and GST/HST.

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