Shipping from China to Canada: Ocean Freight, Transit Times and Duty
Airlift ships full containers (FCL) from China to Canada, with licensed agents in China at origin and partner agents and licensed customs brokers in Canada. Most of this cargo lands on the West Coast at Vancouver or Prince Rupert and goes on by rail to Toronto or Montreal. Carrier schedules list Shanghai to Vancouver at about 17–27 days port to port and Ningbo to Vancouver at 18–29 days. All-water routings to Montreal or Halifax take about 29–68 days, because most relay through Europe or North Africa. Chinese goods pay Canada’s most-favored-nation duty plus 5% GST. Steel and aluminum carry extra surtaxes.
Request a China to Canada freight quote
How Airlift Runs This Lane
Airlift ships full containers (FCL) from China to Canada. Over the past two years, Airlift’s China containers through Canadian ports loaded at Shanghai, Yantian, Ningbo, Fuzhou and Qingdao and discharged at Vancouver or Prince Rupert. Those for Canadian consignees went on by rail to Toronto or Montreal; others crossed by rail into the US Midwest. Carrier schedules list Shanghai to Vancouver at about 17–27 days port to port, and through routings to Toronto, finished by rail, at about 25–39 days from Shanghai. All-water sailings to Montreal and Halifax relay through Europe or North Africa and take about 29–68 days.
Licensed agents in China handle factory pickup, container loading and the export declaration; Airlift has no office of its own in China. Airlift’s New Jersey office books and coordinates the lane. In Canada, where Airlift also has no office, partner agents and licensed Canadian customs brokers handle the import entry, rail and, on request, delivery where available. The regular cargo is household goods and home décor, including lamps, kitchenware and home textiles, plus furniture and industrial supplies such as adhesive tapes.
Quick Facts: China Canada
Main Ports on This Lane
Origin ports in China
Shanghai and Ningbo in the Yangtze River Delta, Yantian (Shenzhen) and Nansha (Guangzhou) in the Pearl River Delta, and Xiamen and Fuzhou in Fujian. Shanghai, Ningbo and Yantian have the most direct sailings to Vancouver; cargo from Fujian and the smaller Pearl River Delta terminals usually relays at a larger port first.
Destination ports in Canada
Vancouver (CAVAN), Canada’s largest port, and Prince Rupert (CAPRR), the closest North American port to Asia, on the West Coast. CN rail serves both ports and CPKC serves Vancouver, with service to Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal. Montreal (CAMTR), about 1,600 km inland on the St. Lawrence, and Halifax (CAHAL) on the Atlantic are reached from China by all-water routings that usually relay in Europe or North Africa. Toronto (CATOR) is an inland rail destination, not a seaport, for this cargo.
Ocean Transit Times by Port Pair (Carrier Schedules, P10–P90)
These ranges come from published carrier schedules, not from Airlift’s own shipment history; Airlift’s China–Canada bookings are too few per port pair to publish a P10–P90 range. For each pair, the range runs from the 10th to the 90th percentile of the port-to-port transit times listed for sailings departing October 8 to November 3, 2026, in the schedule feed that Sealanes uses, with duplicate listings of the same sailing removed. A pair is listed when it had at least 10 sailings on 5 or more departure dates. Sailings listed at under 10 days were left out (a 10-day floor).
The West Coast is the quick side of this lane. Every listed Shanghai–Vancouver and Yantian–Vancouver sailing was direct. Prince Rupert sailings from Yantian, Xiamen and Nansha often call at other Chinese or US West Coast ports first, which widens their ranges. Toronto rows are through routings that finish by rail, either from Vancouver or from New York and New Jersey via Buffalo. Most Montreal and Halifax sailings relay at ports such as Rotterdam, Le Havre, Antwerp, Tanger Med, Colombo or Busan; the low end of some Montreal ranges reflects routings that land at Vancouver and finish by rail.
From Shanghai
| Destination port | Transit planning range |
|---|---|
| Vancouver | 17–27 days |
| Toronto (rail via Vancouver or New York) | 25–39 days |
| Montreal | 30–58 days |
| Halifax | 48–67 days |
From Ningbo
| Destination port | Transit planning range |
|---|---|
| Vancouver | 18–29 days |
| Prince Rupert | 24–36 days |
| Montreal | 29–68 days |
| Halifax | 46–64 days |
From Yantian
| Destination port | Transit planning range |
|---|---|
| Vancouver | 18–30 days |
| Prince Rupert | 27–48 days |
| Toronto (rail via New York or Vancouver) | 28–61 days |
| Montreal | 42–67 days |
| Halifax | 44–66 days |
From Xiamen
| Destination port | Transit planning range |
|---|---|
| Vancouver | 20–30 days |
| Prince Rupert | 28–52 days |
| Toronto (rail via Vancouver or New York) | 29–63 days |
| Montreal | 29–65 days |
| Halifax | 48–67 days |
From Fuzhou
| Destination port | Transit planning range |
|---|---|
| Vancouver | 27–39 days |
| Prince Rupert | 33–40 days |
| Montreal | 51–64 days |
| Halifax | 56–67 days |
From Shekou
| Destination port | Transit planning range |
|---|---|
| Halifax | 40–65 days |
| Montreal | 50–61 days |
From Nansha
| Destination port | Transit planning range |
|---|---|
| Prince Rupert | 33–43 days |
| Halifax | 43–68 days |
| Montreal | 50–64 days |
Each range runs from the 10th to the 90th percentile (P10–P90) of the transit times published in carrier schedules for sailings departing October 8 to November 3, 2026 (HMM, MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM and ONE sailings in the feed, duplicate listings removed), port to port, or to the Toronto rail terminal on through routings. These are planning ranges, not guaranteed transit times: confirm the current sailing and any relay port when you request a quote.
These ranges are port to port only. The glossary explains what a quoted transit time includes and which origin and destination legs it leaves out.
Shipping from China to Canada? Get a quote for your route.
Tell us your supplier’s city, your delivery point in Canada and the cargo-ready date, and we’ll quote the route.West Coast Plus Rail, or All-Water to the East Coast
Most China–Canada cargo for Ontario and Quebec doesn’t sail to Ontario or Quebec. It lands at Vancouver or Prince Rupert after a transpacific crossing and finishes by rail. CN serves both ports, and CPKC serves Vancouver, with intermodal terminals near Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal. That is how Airlift’s own China–Canada containers have moved: discharged at Vancouver or Prince Rupert, then railed to Toronto or Montreal.
The all-water alternative to Montreal or Halifax usually relays through Europe, the Mediterranean or South Asia. Current schedules list relays at Rotterdam, Le Havre, Antwerp, Tanger Med, Colombo and Busan, and Montreal transits of about 29–68 days. All-water can still suit heavy or low-value cargo that is in no hurry, or a delivery point close to the Montreal or Halifax terminals. Ask for both routings to your door and compare the cost and time.
- Through bill of lading: on a rail routing, the carrier usually issues one bill of lading to the inland terminal, so the container stays in the carrier’s hands from China to the ramp.
- Where to clear: the customs broker can obtain release at the port or at the inland terminal, depending on the routing; agree this before the container sails.
- Weight: Canadian road weight limits vary by province, so heavy loads such as furniture, stone or metal often suit a 20′ container.
- US-bound cargo: containers for Chicago and other US Midwest points can also land at Vancouver or Prince Rupert and cross into the United States by rail in transit. That is a US import, quoted on the China to USA lane.
Canada’s Surtaxes and Trade Remedies on Chinese Goods (as of October 2026)
Most Chinese goods clear Canadian customs on the MFN duty plus GST. A set of products also carries a surtax or an anti-dumping or countervailing duty, and these are the measures that most often change the landed cost of Chinese goods. Check your tariff classification against each one before you place the order.
Steel and aluminum surtaxes
- China Surtax Order (2024): steel and aluminum goods from China listed in Schedule 2 of the Order pay a surtax of 25% of the value for duty, effective October 22, 2024.
- Steel Goods and Aluminum Goods Surtax Order: since July 31, 2025, a 25% surtax applies to listed steel goods containing steel melted and poured in China, and to aluminum goods containing aluminum smelted and cast in China. Since September 22, 2025, the CBSA no longer accepts commercial invoices or reports as proof of where the metal was melted or smelted, so ask your supplier for origin documentation, such as a mill certificate, before the goods ship.
- Steel tariff-rate quotas: steel goods from countries without a free trade agreement with Canada, including China, pay a 50% surtax above their quota. The measure has been extended to June 27, 2027. Canada applies only one steel surtax to a given good, and the quota surtax takes precedence.
- Steel derivative goods: a 25% surtax has applied since December 26, 2025 to listed steel derivative goods from all countries, unless another steel surtax already applies.
Electric vehicles
- The 100% surtax on Chinese-made electric vehicles, in force since October 1, 2024, was repealed on March 1, 2026.
- Chinese EVs are now on Canada’s Import Control List. Each shipment needs a shipment-specific import permit from Global Affairs Canada, including temporary imports. Permits are issued under an annual quota of 49,000 vehicles in the first year (March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027), and only EV manufacturers, or a Canadian-resident importer they appoint, are eligible. Eligible vehicles pay the 6.1% MFN rate. The CBSA rejects the entry if the permit isn’t submitted.
Wood cabinets and vanities
- Certain Wood Cabinet and Vanity Goods Surtax Order: since July 31, 2026, a provisional safeguard surtax of 25% of the value for duty applies to wood cabinets and vanities intended for permanent installation, and to their subassemblies (doors, drawers, frames and panels), imported for commercial purposes. It applies to goods from China, flat-pack included, for up to 200 days while the Canadian International Trade Tribunal decides whether a final measure is warranted.
Anti-dumping and countervailing duties (SIMA)
- The CBSA’s list of measures in force under the Special Import Measures Act names China for 39 products (list updated September 17, 2026). They include carbon steel welded pipe, line pipe, oil country tubular goods, cold-rolled, hot-rolled and corrosion-resistant steel, steel plate, rebar, wire rod, steel wire, strapping and grating, aluminum extrusions, copper tube and pipe fittings, fasteners and steel racks.
- Consumer and household products are covered too: mattresses, upholstered domestic seating, stainless steel sinks, decorative and other non-structural plywood, thermoformed molded fiber tableware, thermoelectric coolers and warmers, thermal paper rolls and unarmored building cables.
- Duties are often set per exporter, and an exporter without its own normal value can face a much higher rate. The manufacturer named on the invoice therefore matters as much as the product.
Forced labor
- Since July 1, 2020, tariff item 9897.00.00 of the Customs Tariff has prohibited importing goods mined, manufactured or produced wholly or in part by forced labor. The prohibition applies to any origin, and Canadian authorities monitor supply chains with known forced-labor risks. Keep supplier and supply-chain records ready in case the CBSA asks for them.
Canadian Customs, Duty and GST on Goods from China
Airlift’s licensed agents handle the export declaration in China. In Canada, a licensed Canadian customs broker working with Airlift’s partner agents files the import entry. The requirements below apply to Chinese-origin goods entering Canada as of October 2026. Tariff treatments, surtaxes and CBSA programs change by order and customs notice, so confirm the treatment for your tariff classification before the goods ship.
At origin – China
- Commercial invoice and packing list, with the manufacturer’s name and the HS code.
- Export declaration filed with China Customs by Airlift’s licensed agent before loading.
- For steel or aluminum goods, a mill certificate showing the country where the metal was melted and poured or smelted and cast.
At destination – Canada
- Importer registration: a CRA business number with an import/export program account (the RM account), plus registration in the CBSA’s CARM Client Portal. Without a CARM Client Portal account, commercial goods face release delays and can only be cleared by exception, with duties paid at release.
- Financial security: since May 20, 2025, every importer that wants Release Prior to Payment must post its own financial security in CARM; a customs broker’s security no longer covers its clients. The CARM transition measures ended on December 31, 2025. The commercial importer must now hold its own CARM registration and delegate authority to its broker, rather than clearing under the broker’s business number. Separately, since January 1, 2026, amended section 17 of the Customs Act makes whoever is declared as the importer of record jointly liable, with the importer and the owner, for the duties and taxes, including amounts reassessed later.
- Advance cargo data (eManifest): for marine cargo, cargo and conveyance data must reach the CBSA 24 hours before loading at the Chinese port, and freight forwarders file house-bill data on consolidated cargo. The Canadian importer files no US ISF. If a Toronto routing discharges at New York or New Jersey, though, a five-element ISF goes to US Customs before loading.
- Accounting: the Commercial Accounting Declaration (CAD), submitted in CARM, replaced the B3 customs coding form on October 21, 2024. The licensed customs broker normally prepares and transmits it.
- Product rules: product-specific federal requirements still apply, and the customs broker confirms them before shipment. Wood packaging must carry the ISPM 15 mark.
Duties and taxes on goods from China (as of October 2026)
- Most-favored-nation (MFN) tariff: on the CBSA’s list of countries and applicable tariff treatments issued September 1, 2026, China is entitled to MFN treatment only. Canada withdrew General Preferential Tariff (GPT) entitlement from China effective January 1, 2015, and Canada has no free trade agreement with China, so Chinese goods pay the MFN rate for their tariff classification.
- GST at 5%: the CBSA collects it at import on the Canadian-dollar value of the goods including duty. GST-registered importers generally recover it as an input tax credit.
- Surtaxes and SIMA duties: listed steel, aluminum and other goods carry the surtaxes and anti-dumping or countervailing duties described above, on top of the MFN duty.
- US tariffs don’t apply: Section 301, Section 232 and IEEPA tariffs are United States measures and are not assessed on goods entering Canada. If the goods later move on to the United States, the US entry carries its own duties.
Air Freight from China to Canada
Air freight is available on request for samples, urgent replenishment, spare parts and high-value goods. Airlift’s licensed agents in China arrange pickup, export clearance and the flight booking, and Airlift’s partner agents in Canada handle the customs entry and delivery.
The main Chinese gateways are Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Guangzhou (CAN), Shenzhen (SZX) and Hong Kong (HKG). In Canada, cargo lands at Toronto Pearson (YYZ), Canada’s largest air cargo gateway, Vancouver (YVR) or Montreal (YUL). Air is billed on chargeable weight: the greater of the actual weight and the volumetric weight (length × width × height in centimeters ÷ 6,000). Dense parts pay by the kilo; light, bulky cartons pay by volume.
- Documents: air waybill, commercial invoice and packing list, plus the export declaration filed in China.
- Advance data: the carrier or forwarder sends advance air cargo data to the CBSA before the flight arrives.
- Canadian customs entry through a licensed Canadian customs broker, with duty and GST estimated before departure.
What Sets Your China–Canada Freight Rate
Airlift doesn’t publish China–Canada rates online; request a quote with your dates and cargo details. The factors below explain why two quotes for the same container can differ, and which ones you control.
- Routing: west coast plus rail and all-water to Montreal or Halifax are priced differently and take different times. The rail leg to Toronto, Montreal or the Prairies may be included in a through rate or quoted separately.
- Origin port: Shanghai, Ningbo and Yantian have the most direct transpacific sailings; Fujian and smaller Pearl River Delta ports often relay first.
- Container size and type: 20′, 40′, 40′ high cube or 45′ high cube.
- Season: transpacific peak-season surcharges and general rate increases typically run from midsummer into the pre-holiday peak, and rates often move again around Chinese New Year.
- Destination charges: customs entry, brokerage, rail-terminal and drayage charges, and detention or demurrage after free time all sit outside the ocean rate. Ask for them up front.
- Duty, surtaxes and GST are not freight: they are based on the value of the goods. Budget them separately by tariff classification.
Questions about your cargo?
Tell us what you ship and how it is packed, and a specialist will contact you.What Ships on This Lane
Top commodities on Airlift’s bookings
- Household goods and home décor: table lamps, kitchenware and baskets
- Furniture, including wooden furniture and tables
- Home textiles
- Industrial supplies such as adhesive tapes
Before you order
Upholstered seating, mattresses, plywood and steel racks from China are all on the CBSA’s anti-dumping list, wood kitchen and bathroom cabinets and vanities have carried a 25% safeguard surtax since July 31, 2026, and lamps and other household electrical goods need an accepted Canadian electrical safety certification mark before sale. Check all three before production starts.
Choosing a Freight Forwarder for China to Canada
On this lane, a freight forwarder arranges factory pickup and loading in China and the export declaration. It books the vessel and any rail leg, makes sure eManifest data reaches the CBSA before loading, and coordinates the Canadian customs entry and delivery.
Airlift has handled ocean and air freight since 1999. Licensed agents handle the China end, Airlift’s New Jersey office coordinates the booking, and partner agents and licensed Canadian customs brokers handle Canada. On the China–Canada lane, Airlift acts as your freight forwarder.
What to check before you choose a forwarder
- Both routings quoted: west coast plus rail and all-water, to your door, so you can compare like for like.
- eManifest track record: data must reach the CBSA 24 hours before loading, and a late filing can hold the container in China.
- Canadian customs through a CBSA-licensed customs broker, with classification, surtax and SIMA checks before you book.
- Experience with US-bound cargo moving through Canadian ports, if you also ship to the US Midwest.
- Tracking and document access for you and your supplier.
How to Ship from China to Canada, Step by Step
- Check the rules for your product: the tariff classification, any surtax or SIMA duty, and any product certification it needs in Canada.
- Set up the importer: confirm the Canadian importer’s business number and RM account, CARM Client Portal registration and financial security, and appoint a licensed customs broker.
- Request a quote: send the supplier’s city, the delivery point in Canada, the cargo-ready date, the commodity and the container size, and ask for west-coast-plus-rail and all-water options.
- Confirm the booking: Airlift secures vessel space and equipment and sends the document and gate-in cut-offs.
- Pickup and export clearance: the agent positions the container at the factory, it is loaded and sealed, and the export declaration is filed with China Customs.
- Advance data and bill of lading: cargo data goes to the CBSA at least 24 hours before loading, and the bill of lading is issued once the vessel sails.
- In transit: track by container number or bill of lading, including the rail leg to Toronto, Montreal or the Prairies.
- Canadian customs entry: the broker obtains release, then submits the Commercial Accounting Declaration in CARM; duty, any surtax and GST are paid under the importer’s security.
- Delivery: a truck brings the container from the port or rail terminal to your door where available, and the empty is returned within free time.
Why Ship China–Canada with Airlift
- Licensed agents in China for factory pickup, loading and export clearance
- West-coast-plus-rail routings via Vancouver and Prince Rupert to Toronto, Montreal and the Prairies, and all-water options to the East Coast
- Partner agents and licensed Canadian customs brokers for the import entry and delivery
- Experience routing China cargo through Canadian ports to both Canadian and US Midwest destinations
- In business since 1999, with shipment tracking on Airlift’s digital platform
What to Include in Your China–Canada Quote Request
These details let the team check the route, equipment and scope of service. If something isn’t decided yet, say so in your notes.
- The supplier’s city in China and the delivery point in Canada; preferred ports or routing, if known.
- Commodity description with the HS code if you have it, and the container size and quantity, or the package count, gross weight and dimensions.
- Cargo-ready date and the date you need the goods delivered.
- The Incoterm agreed with your supplier (for example FOB or EXW), and which services to include: pickup, export clearance, freight, rail, Canadian customs and delivery.
- Whether the Canadian importer is already registered in CARM with a customs broker appointed.
- For steel or aluminum goods, where the metal was melted or smelted.
The more of this you send, the more complete the quote, and the easier it is to compare with others.
Request a China to Canada freight quote
Your route is already in the notes; edit it if you need to. Then add what you are shipping, when it is ready, pickup and delivery locations, and the services you want quoted.
Tools and guides for this lane
Shipping from a country without a lane guide? See every origin, by region, on shipping to the USA by country of origin.
Frequently asked questions
To the West Coast, published carrier schedules put port-to-port transit at about 17–27 days from Shanghai to Vancouver, 18–29 days from Ningbo to Vancouver and 18–30 days from Yantian to Vancouver (sailings departing October 8 to November 3, 2026, P10–P90). Prince Rupert takes about 24–52 days, depending on the origin port and whether the sailing relays. To the East Coast it takes longer: about 29–68 days to Montreal and 40–68 days to Halifax. Through routings to Toronto, which finish by rail, took about 25–39 days from Shanghai. Add time for pickup and export clearance in China, and for customs clearance and delivery in Canada. These are planning ranges, not guaranteed schedules.
Choose by where the goods are going in Canada. Vancouver (CAVAN), Canada’s largest port, is the shortest ocean leg from China, and CN and CPKC rail carry containers on to Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal. Prince Rupert (CAPRR), the closest North American port to Asia, connects by CN rail to the same inland points. Montreal (CAMTR) and Halifax (CAHAL) are closer to Quebec and Ontario customers. From China, though, they are reached by long all-water routings through Europe or North Africa, or by landing at Vancouver and finishing by rail. Most of Airlift’s China–Canada containers land at Vancouver or Prince Rupert and continue by rail. For Toronto or Montreal, ask for a west-coast-plus-rail quote and an all-water quote, and compare the cost and time to your door.
Usually by rail across Canada. The container discharges at Vancouver or Prince Rupert and moves on CN or CPKC rail, usually under the same through bill of lading, to an inland terminal near Toronto or Montreal. A truck then delivers it to your door. Carrier schedules list Shanghai to Toronto at about 25–39 days on these through routings. Some carriers instead route Toronto cargo through New York or New Jersey and rail it in via Buffalo; that means the container passes through the United States in transit. The alternative is an all-water sailing to Montreal or Halifax, which in current schedules relays at ports such as Rotterdam, Le Havre, Antwerp or Tanger Med and takes about 29–68 days to Montreal.
To the West Coast, often yes. In carrier schedules for sailings departing October 8 to November 3, 2026, every listed Shanghai–Vancouver and Yantian–Vancouver sailing was direct, and most Ningbo–Vancouver sailings were too; the rest relayed at Busan. Sailings from Xiamen, Fuzhou, Shekou and Nansha mostly relay at Busan, Ningbo, Xiamen or Yantian first. To Montreal, no listed sailing from these ports was direct; to Halifax, only a few sailings from Yantian were. Ask which routing your quote is based on, since a relay adds days and variability.
In the carrier schedule feed for sailings departing October 8 to November 3, 2026, China–Vancouver sailings were listed by HMM, MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM and ONE. CMA CGM, MSC and Maersk were listed to Prince Rupert, and CMA CGM, ONE, MSC and Maersk to Montreal. Airlift books the lane with major ocean carriers. Services and alliance line-ups change, so ask which carrier and service your quote uses.
In China: a commercial invoice and packing list, and the export declaration filed with China Customs; Airlift’s licensed agents in China handle the filing. In Canada: the importer’s CRA business number with an import/export (RM) program account and CARM registration, plus the bill of lading and the commercial invoice. A licensed Canadian customs broker files the release and the Commercial Accounting Declaration. Wood packaging must carry the ISPM 15 mark. Steel and aluminum goods may also need origin documents showing where the metal was melted or smelted, for the surtaxes described below.
Chinese goods pay Canada’s most-favored-nation (MFN) rate for their tariff classification, as of October 2026. China lost General Preferential Tariff (GPT) treatment on January 1, 2015, and the CBSA’s list of tariff treatments issued September 1, 2026 gives it MFN treatment only. On top of the duty, 5% GST is collected at import on the value of the goods including duty; GST-registered importers can generally recover it. Some Chinese goods also carry a surtax or anti-dumping duty, covered in the next answers. Duty follows the goods, not the freight, so confirm the classification with your customs broker before the order ships.
As of October 2026: steel and aluminum goods from China still pay a 25% surtax on the value for duty, in force since October 22, 2024, under the China Surtax Order (2024). Since July 31, 2025, a separate 25% surtax also applies to steel goods containing steel melted and poured in China, and to aluminum goods containing aluminum smelted and cast in China, even when the goods come from another country. Steel goods above Canada’s tariff-rate quotas pay a 50% surtax instead, a measure extended to June 27, 2027; only one steel surtax applies to a good. The 100% surtax on Chinese electric vehicles was repealed on March 1, 2026. In its place, Chinese EVs need a shipment-specific import permit from Global Affairs Canada under an annual quota (49,000 vehicles in the first year) and pay the 6.1% MFN rate.
Yes, on specific products. As of October 2026, the CBSA’s list of measures in force names China for dozens of products under the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA). They include many steel and pipe products, aluminum extrusions, fasteners, copper pipe fittings and tube, steel racks, stainless steel sinks, mattresses, upholstered domestic seating, decorative plywood, thermoformed molded fiber tableware, thermal paper rolls and unarmored building cables. Duties are often set per exporter, so the manufacturer on the invoice matters. If your product is in or near one of these categories, have your customs broker check the scope before you order.
Yes, and do it before the container sails. A commercial importer needs a CRA business number with an import/export (RM) program account and an account in the CBSA’s CARM Client Portal. Since May 20, 2025, an importer that wants its goods released before paying duty must post its own financial security in CARM; a customs broker’s security no longer covers its clients. The importer then delegates authority to a licensed customs broker, who files the release and the Commercial Accounting Declaration.
Not for a sailing that goes straight to a Canadian port. Canada’s own advance filing is eManifest: the carrier and the freight forwarder send cargo data to the CBSA 24 hours before the container loads in China. Some Toronto routings discharge at New York or New Jersey and cross into Canada by rail. For those, a five-element ISF goes to US Customs before loading, because the container arrives in the United States by vessel. The carrier, or the party filing the US in-bond, files it.
Yes. Airlift routes some China containers for Chicago and other US Midwest points through Vancouver and Prince Rupert, then by rail into the United States. The container moves through Canada in transit, and the US customs entry is filed for the US importer. US duties, including the Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods, apply as for any US import. The ISF rule covers cargo arriving in the United States by vessel; for cargo that enters by rail, the rail carrier sends advance manifest data to US Customs instead. For US-bound cargo, start from the China to USA lane guide.
Airlift’s China–Canada bookings are full containers (FCL), mostly 40′ high cube, with 20′ and 45′ high cube units too. LCL can be quoted on request. As a rule of thumb, under about 13 cubic meters LCL is usually cheaper; above about 20 cubic meters, a container of your own usually wins on cost and handling. LCL takes longer door to door, because the cargo is consolidated in China and unpacked in Canada.
Yes, on request. Airlift’s licensed agents in China can arrange air freight from Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Guangzhou (CAN), Shenzhen (SZX) or Hong Kong (HKG) to Toronto Pearson (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR) or Montreal (YUL). Air is billed on chargeable weight: the greater of the actual weight and the volumetric weight (length × width × height in centimeters ÷ 6,000). The carrier or forwarder sends advance air cargo data to the CBSA before arrival, and a Canadian customs broker clears the goods.
Licensed agents in China handle factory pickup, container loading and export clearance; Airlift has no office of its own in China. Airlift’s New Jersey office books and coordinates the lane. In Canada, where Airlift has no office, partner agents and licensed Canadian customs brokers handle the import entry, rail and, on request, delivery where available. Airlift has been in business since 1999 and acts as freight forwarder on this lane.
Airlift doesn’t publish a fixed price, because the rate depends on the port pair, the routing (west coast plus rail, or all-water to the east coast), the equipment, the cargo-ready date and the season. To compare quotes properly, ask for the ocean rate, the rail leg to your inland terminal and the destination charges together. Destination charges cover customs entry, brokerage, drayage and any detention after free time. Budget duty, any surtax and GST separately; they are based on the value of the goods, not the freight. Use the quote form on this page.