1. Your category in Canada
Pick your category and this section shows what we actually hold for Canada: how many potential buyers we have verified, what roles they play in the supply chain, and how well they fit. Switch back to All industries at any time.
“Potential buyers” means the buyers we have verified and listed in our own directory — not every importer in the country. Buyer roles are our own grouping of the roles recorded in that directory. (27 of these records do not yet carry a recorded buyer role.)
2. Entry gate
Canada's gate is certification rather than registration: there is no national pre-shipment conformity certificate, but provincial electrical codes require products to carry a recognised certification mark, and radio devices need an ISED identifier. The customs side is simple once the importer holds a business number. The variable to watch is tariff surtaxes that Canada has applied to certain Chinese-origin goods.
| Requirement | Status | What it involves | Lead time | Cost | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical certification mark | Required in practice | Provincial electrical codes require products to be certified by a recognised body — CSA, cUL, cETL or equivalent. An uncertified product cannot legally be installed, and insurers and inspectors check. | 4–8 weeks | Pending | Pending |
| ISED radio certification | Mandatory (radio devices) | Radio transmitters need certification by ISED and an IC identifier on the label. Where an FCC grant already exists, the Canadian test data can often be reused. | 4–10 weeks | Pending | Pending |
| Importer business number (CARM) | Always applies | The Canadian importer needs a business number and an import account, and declares through the CBSA commercial system. No Canadian entity is required from the exporter. | 1–2 weeks | Pending | Pending |
| Tariff (MFN) | Always applies | Average applied MFN tariff around 1.8%; the rate depends on the HS line and must be confirmed line by line at HS-code level. | — | On customs value | Pending |
| Tariff (MFN and surtax) | Check line by line | There is no free trade agreement between China and Canada. Most industrial goods attract a low MFN rate, but Canada has applied additional surtaxes to certain Chinese-origin products — including electric vehicles, steel and aluminium — and the list can change. Confirm the current rate for your HS line before quoting. | — | — | Pending |
| VAT | Always applies | There is no federal VAT on imports as such: goods are subject to GST at 5% (or HST at 13–15% depending on the province of entry) on the duty-paid value. Registered businesses recover it through their GST/HST return. | — | 5% GST / 13–15% HST | Pending |
| Labelling (bilingual) | Mandatory | Consumer packaging must carry both English and French — product identity, net quantity, dealer name and address, and country of origin. This is a legal requirement, not a preference. | 2–4 weeks | — | Pending |
Certification, tariff and clearance figures change. Every row above carries a verification date, and the current requirement is confirmed with your nominated local agent before each shipment.
3. Buyers and channel partners
Leading buyers and channel partners
Every company below is a real business in Canada taken from our own buyer research, and we have verified that its website is reachable. Names and business types are public; decision-makers, direct emails and phone numbers are reserved for members of the Buyer Directory.
How to use this list: do not mass-mail. Canadian purchasing is certification- and reference-led — lead with the certification mark and the current tariff position. A distributor who already carries certified inventory is worth more than a larger buyer who does not.
4. Demand and import profile
Select your HS code and this block shows the import performance of your own category in Canada — not the country's macro numbers.
Import size & growth
Example: imports of this category run at a double-digit share of the market's total and are growing faster than overall imports.
Example values · to be replaced with OEC / WITS data for your HS line
Source-country mix
Example: China is the largest source, ahead of regional and EU suppliers.
Example values · to be replaced with OEC / WITS data for your HS line
Price band
Example: the mid price band is where Chinese supply competes; the low band is held by regional producers.
Example values · to be replaced with customs / trade data
What we can supply to this market
These are the lines we have found the strongest fit for Canada. Specifications are on the product pages; tell us your application and we will confirm the model.
5. Landed-cost calculator
A static table cannot persuade anyone. Enter your own numbers and see the landed cost. Duty rate and freight are editable so you can test scenarios.
Your shipment
Estimated landed cost
Illustrative calculation only. It excludes anti-dumping duty, excise, port storage and any category-specific surcharge. Confirm the duty rate and local charges with your forwarder before making a commitment.
6. Logistics and customs
Clearance-day figures change with congestion and policy; treat as indicative and confirm before quoting.
7. Payment, currency and tax
8. Localisation and communication
These are the details nobody tells you, and one mistake can cost you a customer.
9. Risks and timing
Frequently asked questions
Do I need CSA or UL certification for Canada?
In practice yes. Provincial electrical codes require a recognised certification mark — CSA, cUL, cETL or equivalent — and insurers and inspectors check it. A US UL listing alone is not sufficient unless it carries the Canadian component.
Is there a free trade agreement between China and Canada?
No. Most industrial goods attract a low MFN rate, but Canada has applied additional surtaxes to certain Chinese-origin products. Confirm the current rate for your HS line.
What tax is charged on imports?
GST at 5%, or HST at 13–15% depending on the province of entry, charged on the duty-paid value. Registered businesses recover it.
Do labels have to be bilingual?
Yes. Consumer packaging must carry both English and French, including product identity, net quantity, dealer details and country of origin.
What is the customs process?
The Canadian importer needs a business number and an import account and declares through the CBSA commercial system. The exporter does not need a Canadian entity.
Which port should I use?
Vancouver or Prince Rupert for the shortest trans-Pacific route, with rail onward to Toronto and Montreal. Montreal and Halifax serve European and Atlantic routings.