Montreal is a leading North American city with a large demand for USA goods. Although located within only an hour of the USA border, shipping from the USA to Montreal can be expensive and difficult due to cross border issues.
Jet Worldwide helps companies find low cost express delivery from the United States to Montreal, Quebec and across Canada. Our services utilize a variety of options from trucking companies, USA address receiving and forwarding to Canada, and cross border solutions.
Jet provides dedicated low cost delivery solutions from New York, California, Florida and across the USA to Montreal, Laval, Brossard and across Canada. Talk to our trusted logistics team serving Quebec and Canada logistics and returns.
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In this post we review:
- Carrier Shipping options from USA to Montreal and Canada
- USMCA, CUSMA Free trade and duty free import to Canada
- Canadian domestic carries to consider
- Common import fees to Canada for goods shipped from the USA
- CBSA assessment and revenue management system (CARM)
Disclaimer: The information in this blog is for general information only.
Duty free to Canada for shipments valued under $150 CAD
As part of the USMCA (the "new NAFTA), Canada has raised their low value duty threshold ( de minimis threshold) to $150 CAD (around $110 USD). Local sales taxes will still apply (but often times, businesses can claim this charge back). This higher duty free threshold helps businesses and e-commerce merchants in the United States and Canada.
Are Goods Shipping to Canada from the USA duty free?
Goods of USA origin can be imported duty free. Read more about the difference between from where goods are shipped versus their origin.
When shipping to Canada, there are common Canadian import fees to consider. These fees include Canadian duty, federal and provincial taxes, and entry fees. Consignments shipped from the USA, shipments valued over $40 CAD are subject to taxes, and most carriers charge around $15 CAD for import processing.
It's important to be aware of the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) duty-free import to Canada. While many assume that parcels shipped from the USA should be duty-free, this only applies to goods made in the USA accompanied by a CUSMA/USMCA Certification of Origin. Useful information and benefits of including a certificate of origin.
The best option for individuals shipping small packages is usually the United States Postal Service (USPS). They offer low-cost fixed rate options from the USA to Montreal. Shipments sent via USPS are imported to Canada and delivered to Montreal via Canada Post.
Another option is to utilize FedEx and UPS, the largest carriers in the USA. They offer international ground, and air shipping options.
For sending a pallet or several pallets, the best option is often less than truck load or LTL
Learn about the best option from Jet Worldwide's Canadian logistics team.
Accompanying PDF Presentation: Shipping to Canada
Parcel shipping options from the USA to Montreal
Sending to Montreal via the United States Postal Service
The US Postal service offers low cost delivery for small parcels shipped from the USA to Montreal. Shipments sent via the USPS are imported to Canada and delivered to Montreal via Canada Post.
US Postal Services to Montreal include:
- USPS Priority Mail International to Canada - including flat rate boxes
- USPS First Class Package International delivery to Canada
Shipments from United States Postal Service are imported and delivered to Canada via Canada Post.
Get a shipping quote between USA and Canada.
Jet Worldwide gives access to all companies seeking shipping quotes between the USA and Canada for parcels pallets, e-commerce support. Fill in form below to get the support you need!
To receive a personalized shipping quote for your online orders, simply reach out to Jet. Be sure to provide us with as many details as possible, including shipping volume, item(s) being shipped, and the average value and weight of each parcel. Let us solve your uniquely Canadian shipping needs.
Shipping to Montreal Via FedEx and UPS
FedEx and UPS are the largest carriers in the USA and the only private carriers with national networks.
FedEx and UPS shipping options Canada from the US include:
- International Ground to Canada (does not include clearance). See graphic below for sample rates for entry preparation of ground shipments to Canada that may apply.
- International express air to Canada
- International economy air shipping to Canada
Get a comparison quote for economy express to Canada
The challenge in using FedEx and UPS is that they can be expensive for small and medium sized companies who are looking for time definite delivery to Montreal.
Shipping pallets to Montreal
Less than truck load is often the best choice for sending a pallet or several pallets to Montreal and across Canada. Read more about the benefits of shipping LTL to Canada.
Common Import Fees to Canada for Online orders
The common import fees to Canada for online orders shipped from the USA include Canadian duty, federal and provincial taxes and entry fees. Read more about Canadian Import Fees.
Reverse Logistics from Canada to the USA
Jet Worldwide provides reverse logistics solutions from Canada to the USA. The challenge for many on-line sales to Canada is managing the relatively low volume returns. Jet provides a Canadian address and simple low cost return processes from Canada.
Importing packages to Montreal from the USA
The issue for sending to Canada is that all shipments valued over $40 CAD are subject to taxes. Most carriers charge around $15 CAD for import processing. See note above on new duty free and tax free thresholds under USMCA. See chart below.
Customs entry preparation is included for most express air shipments sent from the USA to Canada. However, packages sent via ground service do not include customs processing.
For some packages, it is actually less expensive to send express to Montreal - rather than ground - due to the entry processing cost imposed by FedEx Ground and UPS ground in Canada.
USMCA CUSMA duty free import to Canada
Many people assume that, because of the North American Free Agreement, that parcels shipped from the USA to Montreal and Canada should be duty free. The duty free status only applies to goods made in the USA and that are accompanied by a CUSMA/ USMCA Certification of Origin and other supporting paperwork.
CUSMA /USMCA Shipping to Canada from the USA
The key provisions of CUSMA /USMCA (i.e. new NAFTA) include:
- Duty free and tax free entry for most US parcels valued under CA$40
- Duty free entry for most US parcels valued under CA$150
- Simplified "Certification of Origin" for shipments valued under CA$3,300
Duty Free Shipping from the USA TO Canada: Low Value Duty Free
Canadian Customs (CBSA) has harmonized the value for which formal proof of origin is waived at CAD$3300, for all of Canada’s current Free Trade Agreements (including CUSMA)
This means that, proof of origin documentation (i.e., Certification of Origin, Certificate of Origin, origin declaration), is not required in order to apply preferential tariff treatment for shipments valued at CAD$3,300 or less.
For commercial importations valued at CAD$3300 or less, customs will accept a certifying statement on the Commercial Invoice stating that the goods originate in the United States and qualify for preferential treatment under CUSMA.
The statement must include either the country of origin for the imported goods, reference that the request is being made under CUSMA provisions. Here is a sample statement:
“I hereby certify that the goods covered by this shipment qualifies as an originating good for the purposes of preferential treatment under Canada European Free Trade Agreement CUSMA”
Important Note: Claims for preferential tariff treatment over the CAD$3300 low-value threshold must be supported by the applicable proof of origin required by CUSMA . Refer to the Canadian Customs CBSA ‘Origin of Goods' webpage to confirm the requirements for your shipment.
USMCA, CUSMA Rules of Origin:
Basically, if the item is grown, raised or made in the three North American countries, it can be transited duty free between the three North American Countries.
The rules of origin can get complex - especially when the goods contain non-North American origin parts and labour. The importer, exporter or producer are three parties than can certify origin. Confirm with CUSMA experts to ensure their goods qualify as originating before shipping.
Reverse logistics: Managing returns from Canada
On-line sales to Canada demand a return solution without fixed costs with a simple address and processes to manage the returns. Jet Worldwide helps international retailers manage and serve their Canadian customers with full (bi-lingual) support.
Canadian Carriers to Consider For Domestic Shipping
- GLS/Dicom: A division of Royal Mail/ General Logistics Systems (GLS) that specializes mostly in large business to business customers.
- Purolator: A division of Canada Post and leading Canadian carrier.
- Nationex: A privately held firm specializing in business to business ground shipping in eastern Canada.
- TFI Carriers: A financial holding company. TFI parcel carriers (representing around 15% of total revenue) include Canpar, ICS and , Loomis.
- Intelcom: Primarily serving major e-commerce sellers with independent "gig economy" drivers offering low cost parcel delivery.
- FedEx and UPS: Well known carriers offering ground and express across Canada
- Canada Post: Well known option for e-commerce solutions.
CBSA Online Portal for Canadian Importers
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) online portal streamlines the process of importing commercial goods to Canada.
