Heads up for Canadians buying new magic from the USA (from magic dealers, etc.)

The Canadian Government is currently charging a 25% Tariff on items imported from the USA into Canada. I first discovered this a couple of months ago.

This is on top of any PST, GST, and brokerage fees.

I paid a 25% tariff on a small order from the US to Canada back in March. A tariff on $38 US worth of replacement parts for a magic trick (my Axtell Magic Drawing Board prop).

And this past week (May 14) I just paid another 25% tariff on a large order coming from the US to Canada. A tariff on $515 US worth of items for show souvenir sales (magic tricks & magic kits). Again, plus the brokerage fees, and GST & PST (Canadian Taxes).

It’s not called a tariff on the paperwork, but that’s what it is. “Other Government Charges” or "Duty". And no clear explanation on the paperwork that it's 25%.

Sometimes they even put the GST, PST, and Duty into the same category, which can be very confusing.

When I asked the shipping company / broker questions about whether that’s a tariff and how they arrived at the amount, I’m referred to do an online search for SIMA (Special Import Measures Act). They won’t detail it / break it down for me. Very frustrating.

My experience in March had FedEx as the courier, and my experience in May had UPS as the courier. Apparently, they will also charge you the tariff if you use USPS / Canada Post.

Read more: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyag......eng.html

I'm not complaining, per se. I just didn't want anyone else to experience the sticker shock of all the extra fees on a parcel coming into Canada from the USA.

- Donald

P.S. My most recently order had a number of items that were originally made in China, but I was importing from a wholesaler in the USA. So, country of origin didn't matter.

So unfortunate.
…and in addition Acadians buying in the USA have to factor in and absorb the 35-40% exchange rate.
But this has been the situation for years.

I started having my US items shipped to a family member in the US to avoid the hefty brokerage fees and now the tariffs.
This often means a 6 month delay untill I isn’t thus family member and finally pick my items up.

Unfortunately, not every Canadian magician has relatives in the US to hold their items for eventual pick-up.
And often a 6 month delay is too long to wait.

I know some magicians living in Montreal and Ottawa pay to have a PO Box set up in Plattsburgh for pick-ups.

At least three reasons to order from a Canadian magic shop: avoid unexpected and expensive customs charges, avoid long shipping delays, and support Canadian businesses!