To sell to Canadian customers from China, you either ship each order direct from a China warehouse on a Canada line, or ship stock in bulk to Canada and fulfil from a Canadian warehouse. Canada charges duty and tax on almost every order from China, because the low value exemption for goods from outside the US and Mexico is only C$20. That makes the shipping term the big decision. If the customer pays duty, tax and a courier fee at the door, many refuse the parcel. If you ship duties paid (DDP), the price they see at checkout is the price they pay.
This guide is for online stores adding Canada as a market. If you already have Canadian orders, our logistics services team can quote a duties paid Canada line by weight band.
Fulfillmen ships ecommerce orders from China to Canada, so we sell what this guide describes. Thresholds, tax rates and courier fees come from CBSA’s Courier Low Value Shipment rules and UCustoms’ 2026 guides. CARM requirements come from CBSA Customs Notice 26-13 of 12 June 2026. All were checked on 26 October 2026. The duty rate and fees in the example are illustrative.
Who this is for: online stores and brands shipping orders from China to customers in Canada. If you are waiting for a personal order from a shopping app, that retailer can tell you its delivery time.
What a Canadian customer pays on a China order
Canadian import charges on goods from China, 2026
| Charge | How it works |
|---|---|
| Low value exemption | C$20 for goods from China. Above that, duty and tax apply |
| Duty | Set by the tariff code. Most consumer goods 0% to 18%, apparel 16% to 18% |
| GST | 5% on the value plus duty, in every province |
| HST, PST or QST | Ontario 13% HST in total. Nova Scotia 14%. New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island 15%. British Columbia adds 7% PST and Quebec 9.975% QST to GST |
| Courier disbursement fee | Often 2.5% to 3.5% of the duty and tax advanced, with a C$14 to C$20 minimum, when the courier pays on the customer’s behalf |
Duty and tax are calculated in Canadian dollars on the price paid, so a cheaper shipping line does not lower them. What you can control is who pays, and when.
Worked example: a C$60 order, duties unpaid vs duties paid
A customer in Ontario buys a C$60 jacket. Assume an 18% duty rate, which is typical for apparel, and the lowest common courier disbursement fee.
One C$60 apparel order to Ontario. Duty rate and fees are illustrative
| Line | Duties unpaid (DAP) | Duties paid (DDP) |
|---|---|---|
| Duty | C$60 × 18% = C$10.80, paid by the customer | C$10.80, paid by you |
| HST | (60 + 10.80) × 13% = C$9.20, paid by the customer | C$9.20, paid by you |
| Courier disbursement fee | 2.5% of C$20.00 is C$0.50, so the C$14 minimum applies | None |
| Customer pays at the door | C$34.00 | C$0.00 |
Check: 10.80 + 9.20 = 20.00 in duty and tax, plus the C$14 minimum fee, is C$34.00 due on a C$60 order. Under DDP you pay the same C$20.00 in duty and tax, but no disbursement fee, and the customer pays nothing at delivery.
A surprise bill of more than half the order value is why Canadian customers refuse parcels, leave poor reviews and file chargebacks. Building duty and tax into your Canadian prices, or charging them at checkout, and shipping DDP removes all three problems. Our guide to DDP vs DDU explains the terms in detail.
Getting orders from Canada? Tell us your average order value, parcel weight and product type. We will quote a duties paid line to Canada, so you can price Canadian checkout with no charges at the door.
Two ways to fulfil Canadian orders from China
Direct from a China warehouse compared with bulk stock in Canada
| Ship each order from China | Bulk stock to a Canadian warehouse | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Orders are packed in China and sent on a Canada line, duties paid or unpaid | Stock goes by sea or air to Canada, clears customs once, then ships domestically |
| Delivery time to the customer | About 3 to 7 days by express, longer on economy lines | Usually 1 to 5 days once stock is in Canada |
| Cash tied up | Stock held in China only | Stock held in Canada for weeks or months |
| Customs | Per parcel, through the courier | One commercial entry per shipment, with CARM registration |
| Best for | Testing Canada, or up to a few hundred orders a month | Steady Canadian volume on a stable range |
Transit time decides which route fits, so here are current market times for each mode.
China to Canada transit times, 2026 market figures
| Mode | Typical time | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Express courier (DHL, UPS, FedEx) | 3 to 7 days door to door | DDPCHAIN, 2026 |
| Air freight | About 8 to 10 days door to door | Forceget, October 2026 |
| Sea freight to Vancouver | 14 to 18 days port to port | ExFreight, June 2026 |
| Sea freight to Toronto or Montreal | 22 to 30 days door to door, with inland rail | ExFreight, June 2026 |
Per-order ecommerce lines usually sit between express and air freight, and your quote states the time for your product’s lane. For bulk stock, add customs clearance and Canadian warehouse receiving to the sea times above before you plan a launch.
CARM: what you need before importing in bulk
Since 21 October 2024, Canada’s CARM system is the official way to account for imports and pay duty and tax. Any business importing commercial goods, including a business based outside Canada acting as a non-resident importer, must:
- Get a Canadian business number with an import account.
- Register in the CARM Client Portal.
- Enrol in Release Prior to Payment and post financial security if goods are to be released before duty is paid.
CBSA’s Customs Notice 26-13 gives importers using courier clearance 12 months from June 2026 under a modified compliance approach to finish registering. If you ship each order duties paid from China, the line operator handles entry, but bulk importing in your own name means completing these steps first.
Selling to both the US and Canada
Many stores keep one stock pool in China and ship each market from it, which avoids splitting inventory before you know how Canada will sell. Our fulfillment services page explains how that works, and our guide to UK and EU fulfillment from China covers the same decision for Europe.
Mistakes when shipping from China to Canada
- Assuming the C$150 duty free limit applies. That figure is for goods from the US and Mexico only.
- Shipping duties unpaid and losing orders to refused parcels.
- Pricing in US dollars without checking the Canadian tax on top.
- Sending bulk stock before the importer is registered in CARM.
- Moving stock to Canada before you know which products sell there.
Do this next
Pull your last 30 days of Canadian orders and note the average order value and parcel weight. Send those numbers to us and we will quote a duties paid Canada line, so you can update Canadian checkout prices and stop charges at the door.
Quote My Canada Orders →Frequently asked questions
Will my Canadian customers pay duty on orders I ship from China?
Yes, on almost every order. Goods from China are exempt only up to C$20. Above that, duty and GST or HST apply, paid by the customer unless the order ships duties paid.
How should I price Canadian checkout if I ship DDP?
Add the expected duty and GST or HST to your Canadian prices, or charge them as a line at checkout, based on your product’s tariff rate and the customer’s province. Then ship DDP so nothing is due at the door.
What is DDP shipping to Canada?
Delivered duty paid means you pay the Canadian duty and tax before delivery, so the customer pays nothing at the door. You build the cost into your prices or charge it at checkout.
Do I need to register with CBSA to sell to Canada?
If you import bulk stock in your own name, yes: a business number, CARM registration and, for release before payment, financial security. If each order ships duties paid on a carrier’s line, the carrier handles the entry.
Should I ship from China or use a Canadian warehouse?
Ship from China while you test the market or send up to a few hundred orders a month. Move stock to Canada once volume is steady and faster delivery will raise conversion enough to cover the cost.
