IMPORT TARIFFS - LATEST NEWS & UPDATES
Importing goods from Canada into the United States will require you to pay duties, freight charges, and customs user and brokerage fees. The United States - Canada - Mexico Agreement (USMCA) is a free trade agreement (FTA) that mitigates or eliminates some of these duties. However, many imported goods from Canada are still subject to increased duties due to tariffs enacted throughout 2025. We’ll explain the costs you’ll encounter when you import from Canada.
Key Takeaways:
USA Customs Clearance is staffed with Licensed Customs Brokers who can provide expert assistance with general import brokerage and the finer points of importing goods from Canada.
About this guide: This article summarizes common cost categories for importing from Canada into the US. Duty rates and tariffs can change, and final charges depend on HTS classification, origin, documentation, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) admissibility.
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On August 1st, 2025,the US increased the 25% tariff on Canadian products that don’t claim or qualify for USMCA preference to 35%. Imports of energy products and potash remain at 10%. That said, Canadian products that meet the USMCA rules of origin can enter duty-free.
Unfortunately, this exception doesn’t apply to certain Canadian products affected by Section 232 tariffs. Section 232 is a law that allows the president to impose trade restrictions on imports that threaten national security. This includes metals like steel, aluminum, and copper. All three of these commodities face a 50% tariff rate.
You will not owe duties on goods that are imported from Canada if they qualify for preferential, duty-free status in the USMCA. However, commodities that do not meet the USMCA’s rules of origin will be subject to duties, many of which are increased by tariffs. Additionally, not all commodities benefit from USMCA even if they do originate from Canada or Mexico.
Tariffs that increase the rate of duty on Canadian imports include those assessed under authority of Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and others invoked by executive mandate using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The IEEPA is a law that allows the US president to regulate or prohibit international commerce and transactions.
Notable imports from Canada that do not receive preferential treatment from the USMCA include:
Most favored nations (MFN) is a default duty rate the US applies to many imports under the harmonized tariff schedule when an FTA like USMCA doesn't apply.
The most common imports costs from Canada arise from:
With some careful planning and the right guidance, you can handle these costs and make the most of the opportunities that cross-border trade presents.
The type of commodity you're importing plays an important role in determining the fees you’ll owe to CBP when your goods arrive from Canada. CBP is also the primary agency that oversees the importation of goods into the US.
Import duties are determined by the Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code applied to every commodity entering the country.
When calculating the fees between the U.S. and Canada specifically, you’ll also need to reference the USMCA. A number of items are still subject to import duties.
I’ve gathered a list of the more common ones along with a range of base tariff rates. The rates shown reflect MFN and non-preferential duty ranges.
Source: U.S. Trade Representative
Certifying the origin of your goods and how those goods are staged on the tariff schedule will also determine your final duty rate.
When you’re looking at the base rate, keep in mind that these are estimates based on the wide variety of products in those general categories. The above is only a small sample of the possibilities. These are presented based on weight, but the range can be based on volume in liters for some liquid commodities.
At times, the price per kilogram is all you’ll need to cover. Other times it will be that weight plus a percentage of the overall value. I’ve provided you with the highest possible percentage you’re likely to need to pay within each category as applicable depending on the product’s tariff rate quota (TRQ) status for a given fiscal quarter.
Products in the dairy category, like various cheeses, are subject to TRQs. These require special permits issued by the US Department of Agriculture and limit the amount of products that can be imported before the tariff rate increases, usually to the point where it’s no longer cost-effective to import the product in question.
USMCA rules of origin are a set of tests used to determine whether a good is truly considered to originate in Canada, the US, or Mexico for preferential treatment. You’ll need to submit a USMCA certificate of origin and supplier documentation during the import process to prove your goods match the product’s HTS-specific rule.
The USMCA’s list of goods that qualify as originating from a member country if they’re sourced or manufactured therein includes, but is not limited to:
Articles that are wholly produced with materials sourced within the participating countries qualify as USMCA-originating.
The USMCA also allows some final products produced with non-originating materials to be considered originating if the following criteria are met:
Many USMCA determinations are HTS-rule specific, which means the required tariff shift or regional value content changes by product. Determining a product’s viability as USMCA-originating can be difficult for new or inexperienced importers.
We recommend speaking with a customs broker prior to importation. Their experience will help you determine if your goods can be imported duty-free under USMCA.
The type of commodity isn’t the only factor affecting the costs. Any number of international trends and political situations can cause changes to tariffs and the duties you’ll owe.
Key considerations to keep in mind include:
Planning for these costs requires importers to perform consistent market research and stay up-to-date with political & economic policy changes between the US and Canada. The more you know, the higher the chance of making good decisions, and the more successful your importing business can be.
US importers do not pay Goods and Services Tax (GST) or Provincial Sales Tax (PST) in Canada on goods they are importing into the United States. The Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), a combination of GST and PST used in five Canadian provinces, is treated the same way.
While GST/HST technically applies, the rate is set to zero, so no tax is actually charged. This is based on the principle that consumption taxes should apply only in the jurisdiction where goods and services are consumed.
The exceptions to this rule generally involve imported goods that might have been used in Canada before being exported, such as a used car. Others involve the import of energy sources.
It's important to note that the specifics vary greatly. Always consult with a Licensed Customs Broker for advice about your specific circumstances.
Knowing how to calculate the landed cost of an imported shipment is a vital business skill. These are the costs directly associated with a given shipment of imported merchandise.
The following fees are used in most landed cost calculations:
An MPF is a CBP user fee commonly charged on formal entries, while an HMF is a fee charged to ocean freight to help maintain US harbors and ports.
When importing from Canada, you probably won’t pay HMFs often as the fee applies to ocean shipments docking in ports to offload merchandise. The fee does not apply to terrestrial freight transportation or imports that arrive by air.
Out of all the fees that make up landed costs, the most difficult to estimate are duties on your imported goods. Our landed cost calculator incorporates IEEPA and sectoral tariffs into its HTS lookup function, making it an invaluable tool for importers who need to estimate duties on goods from Canada.
It's time you found out your landed cost.
Accurately estimate import duties and tariffs in minutes, based on origin, value, and product type, so you can foresee your costs and never get surprised after you buy.
Even experienced importers often work with Licensed Customs Brokers because of their ability to manage a variety of processes. Among other things, brokers can:
You aren’t legally required to use the services of a customs broker whether you’re operating out of the United States or Canada. Choosing the DIY approach, however, has landed many new importers in hot water with the CBP.
Wrong HTS code? Say hello to a reclassification fee. Document errors causing a delay at the border crossing? You’ll need to pay for additional storage time, document resubmission, and possibly a CBP inspection fee.
In the end, it’s usually more cost-effective to hire a professional with experience in the finer points of customs clearance.
If you’ve hired a customs broker, they can handle most necessary documentation on your behalf. Most, if not all, have access to the online submission systems like the Automated Clearing House (ACH) and others.
Other documents often required include:
There are fees related to each of these documents, either directly to the issuing agency or as set by the brokerage firm assisting you with importing.
I’ve grouped up the various other transport-related services here to keep things simple. In this case, domestic logistics costs include shipping, warehousing, and possibly packaging.
These can technically be handled by separate entities, but let’s be honest, who wants to keep track of that many companies? Therefore, when calculating your final landed costs, include the costs of hiring a reliable third party logistics company (3PL).
A 3PL often serves multiple channels in the logistics industry, including shipping and warehousing. In many cases, they can help with many of the needs we’ve already discussed.
USA Customs Clearance can actually help you with several of these, as we have an established relationship with R+L Global Logistics, a nationwide 3PL provider.
A big part of saving on import costs from any nation involves complying with regulations and working with an experienced customs broker. Our import cost reduction playbook includes a detailed list of proven, legal methods of keeping import costs like duties and inspection fees to a minimum.
The current Free Trade Agreement benefiting U.S./Canada trade is the 2020 USMCA, formerly known as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Its creation improved the import process between the participating nations by modernizing provisions and reducing different trade barriers.
By choosing imports that are largely protected from harsh import fees, businesses can save thousands of dollars.
The current Free Trade Agreement benefiting US/Canada trade is the 2020 USMCA, which replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Its creation improved the import process between the participating nations by modernizing provisions and reducing different trade barriers.
By choosing imports that are largely protected from harsh import fees, businesses can save thousands of dollars.
Receive Personalized Assistance for Regulated Commodities.
At USA Customs Clearance, we're dedicated to simplifying your importing process. Our services are designed to empower you to navigate import costs with confidence, giving you more time to focus on what truly matters – your business.
As both a CBP-licensed customs brokerage, we can seamlessly facilitate your imports and simplify costs between the US and Canada. Give us a call at (855) 912-0406 for a risk-free brokerage services quote. You can also reach us on our contact page. Let's turn your importing journey into a smooth and successful venture, together.
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