Shipping livestock or buying from US to Canada

[Snowgrrl83]

I think you should fully support your LFS, but out of curiosity, how does it work at the border if you order livestock online from the US or take a roadtrip to go shoppung for some corals/fish/inverts in the States to bring them back home to Canada? Are there restrictions? Permits needed? Info?

 

[Rybren]

I don't think that anyone will ship livegoods to Canada. You will need permits to bring them in legally.

For dry goods, Bulk Reef Supply has, IMHO, the best shipping deals to Canada - there are no hidden or extra fees. Otherwise,the couriers usually tack on a hefty brokerage fee, USPS doesn't.

You could also have dry goods shipped to the UPS Store in OGDENSBURG and save the brokerage fees and often the shipping fees.

 

[JB63]

What happened to NAFTA? I thought all trade was totally deregulated ???

 

[Rybren]

There's no import duty on stuff made in the US, but we still have to pay Canadian Taxes. UPS and FedEx really rip us off on getting things through customs.

A Christmas present this year cost me $49 USD. Shipping via FedEx was $25USD and the FedEx brokerage/customs/tax fee was another $27Cdn.

Unfortunately, no Canadian vendor carries this particular item, so it was either get ripped off or not get the item.

 

[shaginwagon13]

What happened to NAFTA? I thought all trade was totally deregulated ???

NAFTA only applies to goods manufactured in Canada-US-Mexico. Just because the a US company is selling something, doesn't mean that product is exempt unless its actually manufactured there.

Also, livestock does not fall under the NAFTA agreement. Restricted species of both corals and fish need a CITES permit.

Either way, you still have to pay the HST when shipping into Ontario unless you want to drive across the border to pick up the package and not declare it.

 

[JB63]

That must hurt

Not to go Off-Topic but, I lived in Toronto few years back (late 90's) and back then there was PST+GST at 15% (and stores were closed on Sunday too, like in Germany) ... What is HST, Hobby Sales Tax?

PST - Provincial Sales Tax
GST - Goods & Services Tax

 

[JB63]

There's no import duty on stuff made in the US, but we still have to pay Canadian Taxes. UPS and FedEx really rip us off on getting things through customs.

A Christmas present this year cost me $49 USD. Shipping via FedEx was $25USD and the FedEx brokerage/customs/tax fee was another $27Cdn.

Unfortunately, no Canadian vendor carries this particular item, so it was either get ripped off or not get the item.

Yes I'm aware of the 'painful' situation with the shippers. I wanted to buy a Lego set off eBay few days back ... and shipping alone (Toronto to Chicago) was over $50 !!!

 

[shaginwagon13]

That must hurt

Not to go Off-Topic but, I lived in Toronto few years back (late 90's) and back then there was PST+GST at 15% (and stores were closed on Sunday too, like in Germany) ... What is HST, Hobby Sales Tax?

PST - Provincial Sales Tax
GST - Goods & Services Tax

HST = Harmonized Sales Tax (13%)

In Ontario and many of the other provinces there is no more PST. Now, there is HST and GST.

 

[JB63]

Thank You ... it sure has been a while.

So, if my math (and memory) is right, the total tax on most purchased goods is about 20% on HST+GST ?