Ziem network
Customs clearance and freight forwarding in Canada
Canada is a major trading nation with free trade agreements across Europe, Asia and North America, including CETA with the EU and CUSMA with the US and Mexico.
Shipping to and from Canada
Commercial importers in Canada must register in the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management system (CARM) and need a business number with an import-export account. Duties and GST are assessed on each entry, and preferential tariffs under CETA or CUSMA require proper origin documentation.
We prepare the commercial and origin documents at departure, so the entry can be filed as soon as the cargo lands.
Key facts for Canada
- Customs clearance
- Ziem network
- Customs authority
- Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
- Framework and systems
- Customs Tariff, CARM
- Importer registration
- a business number with an import-export account and registration in CARM
- Main airports
- Toronto (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR), Montreal (YUL)
- Main seaports
- Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Montreal
- Road freight
- Cross-border trucking between Canada and the USA.
- Peak and holiday periods
- Canada Day (1 July), Thanksgiving (October) and Christmas to New Year
What we handle in Canada
Import clearance
CBSA entries, duty and GST calculation and release in Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal.
CARM registration support
Guidance on CARM and the importer account set-up.
CETA & CUSMA preferences
Origin checks for reduced or zero duty under Canada's trade agreements.
Export documentation
Export declarations where required.
Air freight with own AWB
Direct air waybills via Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.
Services in Canada
- Air freight to and from CanadaAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight to and from CanadaFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in CanadaImport and export clearance by our in-house customs teams in 8 countries and by partner teams in the Ziem network.
Customs clearance in Canada
Ziem network
Customs clearance in Canada is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
For air freight to and from Canada we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in Canada need a business number with an import-export account and registration in CARM.