Clarity on Importing from USA to Canada

[jps]

What are the conditions on importing from USA to Canada?

I have read...
1. Certain: Pre-2007 there was an excise tax of 10% which is no longer.
2. Certain: You must pay the proper GST/PST/HST depending on where you live in Canada.
3. Certain: Watch what company is shipping as handling fees are different - FedEx Express suggested.
4. Certain: Cheapest way is to pick it up in the States and bring it back yourself without declaring it - Discussed enough already.
5. Questionable: Lots of talk and mixed comments regarding whether there is duty on loose diamonds vs completed engagement rings.
6. Questionable: No talk of loose gemstones vs completed rings (this is what I''m really interested in).
7. Questionable: Technically NAFTA states it is the origin of the product that matters in deciding whether it has free trade or not. It must be marked as NA origin or just not marked other than NA (no origin markings). For diamonds I would think there isn''t an issue since there are minds here in Canada and thus if not marked one must beleive it could be from NA. But for something like a tsavorite there are certainly no minds in NA and thus technically does not fall under NAFTA. Now, if the rough came from Africa and was cut in the USA or the cut stone came from Africa and was put into a setting in the USA then I could see how it would then fall under NAFTA and cross into Canada duty free. Thoughts?
8. Questionable: I''m crazy

 

[Gailey]

JPS,

I have imported over a dozen loose stones from the US into Canada. I have never paid duty on one of them. GST only as I live in Alberta. None of my stones has been worth more than $700. I ask vendors to list the item as a geological specimen rather than the name of the gem to avoid un-due attention. I am happy for them to state the purchase price, as I am not about to commit fraud or ask them to do so. I also ask for them to be shipped via USPS, rather than a courier. This has more to do with the inaccessibility of my house rather than anything else. The postman has independant access, couriers do not.

I have also imported a diamond ring. It came from BGD and was shipped via Fedex. It was a little more complicated, but again, I only paid GST and a small brokerage fee. No duty. One thing did stick out from that experience. The FEDEX clearing agent told me that if customs did not agree with the declared purchase price and felt the ring should have cost more then they were at liberty to charge me GST on what they felt it was worth. In the end, I only paid GST on the purchase price, but I was a little concerned. I have never read of this actually happening on a PS thread, so perhaps it was an empty threat. It was a FEDEX employee that told me that, not a customs agent either.

Hopefully Chunky Cushion Lover will chime in with his experience. He has imported far more valuable items than I have.

Edited to add, one of my stones was a tsavorite.

 

[CharmyPoo]

I have imported a large number of gemstones and several diamonds from the US to Canada (Toronto). I have never been charged duties but I have frequently been charged GST and PST. Do not go with UPS as they will charge you a lot for brokeage fees.

 

[lelser]

I import quite a lot of gems and rough from all over the world to Canada. Because I import as a business, I pay only GST not PST. There is no duty on coloured stones but there may be some duty on diamonds depending on origin.

Depending on the items, I''ll either use Fedex or my own broker for customs clearance. My guy is better and cheaper, but sometimes it''s just easier to use Fedex. Avoid UPS like the plague

- they have VERY high brokerage fees
- they reserve the right to leave packages at the door if it''s a residence regardless of whether you require a signature.

That was bad enough, but they left 4k worth of gems AT THE WRONG DAMN DOOR. I was vexed. Took 3 days to get the package - intact.

No major carrier will actually pay a gem or jewelry claim. They''ll take your money, but if you read the fine print these items are actually not covered. There are specialist insurers that do cover (I use G4S) but the ones I know are trade-only. If you are buying from someone and want to have your goods insured, ask about 3rd party shipment coverage.

Cheers,

Lisa

 

[CharmyPoo]

Date: 3/2/2010 10:18:23 PM
Author: lelser

No major carrier will actually pay a gem or jewelry claim. They'll take your money, but if you read the fine print these items are actually not covered. There are specialist insurers that do cover (I use G4S) but the ones I know are trade-only. If you are buying from someone and want to have your goods insured, ask about 3rd party shipment coverage.

Wow! I had no idea. Why do we pay for insurance then?

I did some more research but if they are in the Fedex DVX program .. jewelry and diamonds is covered.

 

[kayla.tastikk]

Date: 3/2/2010 10:18:23 PM
Author: lelser
Depending on the items, I''ll either use Fedex or my own broker for customs clearance. My guy is better and cheaper, but sometimes it''s just easier to use Fedex. Avoid UPS like the plague


- they have VERY high brokerage fees

- they reserve the right to leave packages at the door if it''s a residence regardless of whether you require a signature.


That was bad enough, but they left 4k worth of gems AT THE WRONG DAMN DOOR. I was vexed. Took 3 days to get the package - intact.

I just got a case from Rio Grande- 2-day trackable shipping from UPS and they left it at the wrong house. I figured that''s what had happened though because I have the same numbers in my address as someone around the corner, and so my nephew and I went on a "super-secret-reckon-ninja" mission. :]

In other words, I''m going to avoid UPS at all costs.