I'm buying from the US and the product originally came from Canada, why am I paying import charges

[neilsonlj]

I've looked at and purchased a few items that originally came from Canada but are currently in the US being listed by US sellers. Why are there import charges on a product that originally came from Canada to begin with? Hudson Bay blankets for example? Or once a war medal from CANADA 1867?

[maggiebvintage2010]

Items over 50 years old, when declared with the proper annex code, are not dutiable.  Antiques over 100 years old are not dutiable.  Used goods in general are not necessarily exempt from duty - it depends on their classification and origin.  Without the proper paperwork proving Canadian (or NAFTA) origin, or age, anything may be dutiable.

However, your question probably pertains to the method of shipping under the GSP, which lumps shipping and handling charges, along with import taxes and duty if applicable, under "import charges".  To avoid these, the seller would need to agree prior to purchase to a different shipping method, as well as updating the listing to reflect this, and to completing the appropriate export paperwork - things a lot of US sellers are not interested in doing.

[maggiebvintage2010]

Real Hudson's Bay blankets are and have always been made in the UK.  Woolrich's is licensed for US sales by Hudson's Bay, and imports them direct from England.  Some look-alikes, such as Pendleton's blankets, are made in the USA. So although the label is associated with Canada, the product is not of Canadian origin.

[reallynicestamps]

I can't speak for the Hudson's Bay blanket (although I would suggest that if the import charges are too high that you also check prices from Canadian eBay sellers or even ... gasp!... The Bay itself).

There would be no duty on the medal, as a 'used' item.  The same may go  for the blanket.

However, there would be sales taxes (GST/HST/PST/QST) from 5% to 15% of the selling price.

And if the seller is using the Global Shipping Program, there is also a PitneyBowes (GSP provider) service fee of ~$5.

If sent by USPS there would still be shipping to Canada:

Hmm - that was a happy accident. I meant this:

https://postcalc.usps.com/?country=10440

Your seller might use First Class Parcel International, but more likely would use one of the more pricey Priority International services although both have Confirmation of Delivery.

Once in Canada, the blanket would be bulky enough that CBSA is likely to assess it for duty (zero if used) and sales tax and Canada Post would then add a $9.95Cdn service charge on your doorstep.  Again, the medal might slip through depending on the value (CBSA tends to ignore small items valued under $100Cdn.)

[ypdc_dennis]

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@neilson031 wrote:

I've looked at and purchased a few items that originally came from Canada but are currently in the US being listed by US sellers. Why are there import charges on a product that originally came from Canada to begin with? Hudson Bay blankets for example? Or once a war medal from CANADA 1867?

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The sellers are using the Global-Shipping-Program.  The "import charges" include GST/HST on the item, a handling fee and a shipping charge from the GSP processing center. If it was made in Canada, it should be duty exempt.

GST/HST applies to items valued at more than $20CA when shipped across the border into Canada.