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Wholesale for Canada

Wholesale Promotional Gifts for Canada: Small Orders from China with GST, HST and Duty

Canadian buyers of wholesale promotional gifts from China include small businesses, associations, schools and event planners who want tens to a few hundred pieces of several items. This page explains how importing canvas tote bags, stationery, drinkware and gift sets into Canada works in small lots, including the tax mix by province, the broker's role and the labeling question. It also shows how one shipment can combine several sellers' goods.

Canada has a layered sales-tax picture: the federal GST is 5%, and provinces add HST or PST depending on where you are. Duty depends on tariff classification and origin, and some Chinese-origin goods carry extra surtaxes, so the specific tariff item needs checking. Value for duty generally excludes international freight and insurance. Rules and rates change, so confirm them with a customs broker before ordering.

What to know before you import promotional gifts into Canada

GST plus provincial HST or PST

The federal GST is 5%, and provinces add HST or PST depending on the province, so the tax on the same shipment differs between a buyer in one province and a buyer in another. Ask your broker which taxes apply to your goods in your province, how they are collected, and how that affects your cash flow.

Surtaxes and value for duty

Duty depends on tariff classification and origin, and some Chinese-origin goods carry extra surtaxes, so check the specific tariff item for each product. A tote bag, a pen and a gift box may not be treated alike. Value for duty generally excludes international freight and insurance, so the duty base sits closer to the goods price.

Business number and import account

You need a business number with an import/export account to import commercially, and a customs broker usually files. If you are a new importer, ask the broker to explain the sequence and set up the account before the goods are on the water, since you will need the account details for the declaration.

Consumer product safety and bilingual labels

The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act and product-specific regulations apply, and bilingual labeling rules apply to many consumer goods. Ask which of your items, such as printed packaging, toiletry sets or children's items, need English and French text. Give the seller the exact wording early, since reprinting packaging after production is costly.

Landed cost on small lots and pre-order checks

Every shipment carries inland China freight, international freight, insurance, duty, GST or HST, and clearance, port and delivery charges on top of the goods price. Fixed charges weigh more per unit on small lots, so consolidating helps. Before ordering, confirm the tariff item, the surtax position, your business number and the label wording.

Customs rules, rates and product requirements change. Treat this page as orientation and confirm the current position for your exact product with a licensed customs broker or the national customs authority before you order.

Routes and timing for Canada

Typical Canadian gateways are Vancouver and Prince Rupert on the West Coast and Montreal and Halifax on the East Coast, with sea transit roughly four to six weeks door to door. Buyers inland often use sea routes via the US West Coast, so ask the forwarder how the onward leg and clearance are handled. For a small mixed shipment of gifts, ask whether the quote is port-to-port or door-to-door, and who clears the goods.

A small wholesale plan for Canada

  1. Order samples and check labels

    Buy a sample of each line and show it to your broker, with the packaging, so they can confirm the tariff item and the bilingual labeling needs before any larger order.

  2. Build a mixed first lot

    Place one purchase across several sellers, such as totes, notebooks and a gift set. Keep to a few designs, approve proofs, and ask us to inspect the goods in China before they are packed together.

  3. Choose a gateway and consolidate

    Ship the consolidated lot to the gateway that suits your location, using sea LCL or air for a firm date. Confirm your business number and broker before the goods sail, and ask for a door-to-door quote.

Listings buyers in Canada ask about

Wholesale promotional gifts for Canada: questions

Which taxes apply to wholesale promotional gifts imported into Canada?

Federal GST is 5%, and provinces add HST or PST depending on the province, so the total depends on where you are. Duty is separate and depends on tariff classification and origin. Ask your customs broker for the combined cost for your province and goods, and check again before each new order because rates change.

Do Chinese-origin gifts face extra surtaxes in Canada?

Some Chinese-origin goods carry extra surtaxes on top of normal duty, so the exact tariff item matters. The treatment can differ between a pen, a canvas bag and a gift box. Ask your broker to check each tariff item and keep the result with your records, since the position can change.

Do I need a business number to import gifts into Canada?

Yes, for commercial imports: a business number with an import/export account is needed, and a customs broker usually files the entry. If you are buying for your own business, set the number up before the shipment is on the water. Ask your broker what details they need from you and from us on the paperwork.

Does bilingual labeling apply to promotional gifts sold in Canada?

Bilingual labeling rules apply to many consumer goods, and the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act and product-specific regulations also apply. Whether a given gift needs English and French text depends on what it is. Send the packaging and label wording to a broker or the national authority before you approve artwork for production.

Importing to another market?

Planning a first order for Canada? Tell us the items, the quantities and the delivery address and we return an itemised delivered price, with the sample-first option laid out.

Plan a small order