Importing U.s. Leather Into Canada ?

[cdf]

As a private individual , as opposed to a large corporation , is Canuckastan Customs going to give me a hassel . I'm not talking about exotic skins , just thigs like saddle skirting .

Chris

Edited August 21, 2012 by cdf

[daveottawa]

As a private individual , as opposed to a large corporation , is Canuckastan Customs going to give me a hassel . I'm not talking about exotic skins , just thigs like saddle skirting .

Chris

I've been trying to figure out that too. So far I found that Bovine vegetable pre-tanned leather had a 5% base rate (whatever that means) up to 1994 and is duty free after 1994. It's code 4104.21.00 in the NAFTA agreement with Canada. Leathers are all coded in the 41.01 to 42.01 in this monstrous book. I tried calling Customs and didn't get a firm answer, but that was before I found the 4104 code. I'll call them tomorrow again and see if I can get a firm answer whether there's duty or not. I'll post up their reply if it's any good. To avoid broker fees, I want to have leather shipped to the UPS store in Ogsdenburg, just over the border in New York, a short drive for me. I've picked up tools and some machinery that way and only pay the GST at the border. Combine it with a nice drive on a sunny day and it makes for a nice outing. Time and gas considered, I still come out ahead.

Here's the wretched NAFTA document I found. I couldn't copy just the parts about leather so shoot directly to page 174!

http://books.google....epage&q&f=false

Edited August 22, 2012 by daveottawa

[conceptdiba]

I can shed some light on this. I imported a couple hundred kilos of vegetable tanned bovine leather from Italy, and there was NO duty on it. There used to be, but this is not the case anymore. From what I remember, the states is the same. No duty. You will pay tax like HST in BC. If you're a business, just GST, which you can write off as an expense, of course.

[lightingale]

Thanks for this thread. I thought I was stuck with Tandy leather because of importing hassles. Good to know otherwise!

[daveottawa]

Thanks! Did you have to pay a broker fee to clear the goods? Last year I imported a unicycle duty free but had a $55 Broker fee from the transport company for processing it at the border.

[Denise]

Dave,

Make sure they send everything by the post office. No brokerage fees there. Any courier charges the brokerage fees. Most companies who do much business with Canadians should know this, but it is always important to specify or else you can get stung - as you have found out.

If you want to know about importing leather, someone who could tell you is Ken at Caledon Sales in Calgary. http://www.caledonleather.ca/ He is a good guy to buy leather from but he is also just a good guy and will probably tell you about any restrictions since this is what he does all the time.

[conceptdiba]

Like Denise said, have the stuff shipped by USPS. UPS, fedex, etc are going to ding you on brokerage fees. You won't be charged more than an $8 handling fee

[bluesman1951]

I have been using RL Cox hide and Fur in Albuquerque for 25 years .Mike and Ellen are the owners . Their phone number is 505 2424980 open 8:00am to 5:00pm m-f . Great source for leather and furs .Mike ships all over and may have the answer you need . They are cheaper than tandy by 50% on most things . bluesman1951

As a private individual , as opposed to a large corporation , is Canuckastan Customs going to give me a hassel . I'm not talking about exotic skins , just thigs like saddle skirting .

Chris

[daveottawa]

Yup, just like you all said, I called Canada Customs today and they said that leathers from the USA are duty free unless it is a restricted species (I doubt bovines are on that list!), and if it comes by USPS/Canada Post there will only be a $9.95 processing fee plus HST if applicable.

[Boyd]

Anyone know the rules when you cary via airplane, if they are any different?

[daveottawa]

Anyone know the rules when you cary via airplane, if they are any different?

The HST will be the same no matter how you cross the border, but I bet you'll have to pay for it as luggage. That'll cost you a bundle! Maybe carry-on?

[cdf]

Thanks all , for the great info ! I wasn't just worried about Border services , but also the Food and Agriculture types .

Chris

[Denise]

cdf,

Hides aren't a problem that way. Even at the height of the BSE deal, the one thing bovine that still crossed the border was hides. (To the best of my understanding anyway.)

[daveottawa]

Right, the Food Inspection Agency people are the ones I was told by Customs to call to check about about exotic/restricted skins before trying to import them.

edit: and on the 'allowed' list is just about every hide I see in the catalogs like bovines, snake, alligator, kangaroo.

Edited August 25, 2012 by daveottawa