Ocean Shipping Experts
Accessible, Supportive, Knowledgeable
PCB assists in sailing ocean imports into Canada with compliant services and 24/7 trade advice founded on decades of experience in international trade.
PCB is comprised of full-service logistics providers who are well-versed in changing policies and regulations. With our tailored services, you can mitigate trade risks while being presented with new avenues of value and efficiency when importing by ocean.
We pride ourselves in offering you global trade solutions in one convenient place, as well as 24/7, 365 specialist advice for whenever trading becomes too tricky for you to handle.
PCB Will Provide You With The Following:
- Help review and collect documents needed to submit a declaration to Customs.
- Maintenance of records according to Customs regulations.
- Tariff classification application to prevent the overpayment of duties.
- Instill confidence for the overall compliance of your import when declaring goods or submitting documentation to the government.
- Identify the best drayage services for your imports and connect you with reliable carriers.
- Advise on landed costs of goods, free-trade agreements, and government compliance regulations to alleviate the risks, charges, and penalties associated with importing into Canada.
Drayage Services
Need help with your drayage?
Fill out the form below and a member of our Client Services team will contact you to get started.
FAQ: Importing By Ocean
- Register for an Importer business account and GST number.
- Determine your rate of duty.
- Calculate your goods’ valuation for Customs purposes.
- Determine your HS tariff classification.
- Obtain a ruling from Customs.
- Determine duty-saving opportunities with Free Trade Agreements and preferential tariff treatments.
- Advise of all import requirements with Participating Government Agencies.
- Connect you to packaging, labelling, tax, freight, and more resources.
Customs brokers provide many services, which is why the charges for their services vary. Your costs will be determined by the following:
- The value of your shipment.
- The complexity of your import.
- Level of expertise required to import your cargo across the ocean.
No, though it is easy to see why many think the government employs customs brokers. Instead, customs brokers are the middlemen between the government and importers; they aren’t government-employed but are trained experts in understanding government regulations and policies to help get your shipments across borders. PCB is a full-house operational team that assists companies and importers with international trade in one convenient place. The CBSA licenses Customs Brokers; however, not all customs brokers are licensed. Many industry accreditations are obtained through the Canadian Society of Customs Brokers, the CSCB.
Due to recent world events, international trade has been subject to various threats and hazards, such as natural disasters, accidents, and malicious attacks. The growing risks and complexities of global trade have caused governments to emphasize cross-border security more strongly.
While new regulations and a focus on security have helped create a safer trade environment, it has also resulted in tighter processing times, increased audits and greater costs for importing goods.
In recent years, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have emphasized both import inspections and post-audit verifications. The responsibilities of the Importers of Record have steadily increased as all supply chain members endure higher scrutiny from customs officials. Now more than ever, it is imperative that the Importer of Record maintain a high level of sophistication, demonstrate due diligence, ensure their responsibilities are understood, implement internal controls and procedures for best practices, and understand the consequences of non-compliance.
The consequences of failing to comply with customs regulations include:
- Monetary penalties issued by CBSA.
- Increased scrutiny and frequency of examinations on future shipments.
- Delays of incoming shipments.
- Inadvertent overpayment of duties and taxes.
- Total revocation of import privileges.
The current regulatory environment demands active participation by every member of the international trade community. The laws governing cross-border trade continue to become increasingly complex, and this requires ongoing, continuous improvement in voluntary compliance through awareness and education.
How Can I Practice Compliant Importing?
- Compliance-Driven Process:
Manage the risks of importing and improving efficiencies in your processes with an emphasis on a thorough understanding of regulations.
- Self-Auditing Program:
Canada Border Services Agency has clearly identified that importers are responsible for understanding import regulations and their obligation to file corrections to declarations of origin, tariff classification and value for duty. Importers should use reasonable care and due diligence to achieve compliance with import regulations.
Customs auditors will likely be interested in verifying the following:
- Record keeping
- Purchase orders
- Sales invoices
- Receiving reports
- Record of payment receipts
- Permits
Importing by ocean has many benefits for importers, consisting of:
- Lower Costs
Importing can be an expensive transaction, which is why importers and companies use ocean freight services when shipping large containers. Importing by ocean saves time and resources, which could be more costly with other transportation. - Decreased Environmental Impacts
Shipping by ocean emits the least amount of CO2 compared to other freight transportation modes. - Faster Delivery Times
Although shipping by air is the fastest way to get your shipments across long hauls, shipping by ocean allows you to ship oversized, bulky and hazardous cargo more safely and efficiently.
