How to Start an Import Export Business in Canada: A Comprehensive Guide

If you are looking for a lucrative and exciting business opportunity, you might want to consider starting an import export business in Canada. Import export businesses are involved in buying and selling goods across international borders, taking advantage of different markets, currencies, regulations, and consumer preferences. Import export businesses can operate in various sectors, such as agriculture, manufacturing, technology, fashion, and more.

In this article, we will explain the benefits of starting an import export business in Canada, the steps you need to take to set up your business, the legal and regulatory requirements you need to comply with, and the best practices and tips for running a successful import export business in Canada.

Benefits of Starting an Import Export Business in Canada

Canada is one of the world’s largest trading nations, with a total trade value of over $1 trillion CAD in 2020. Canada has a diverse and open economy, with access to many global markets through its trade agreements, such as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union. Canada also has a skilled and multicultural workforce, a stable political and legal system, a strong infrastructure and transportation network, and a favorable exchange rate for exporters.

Starting an import export business in Canada can offer you many advantages, such as:

Expanding your customer base and market reach
Increasing your sales and profits
Diversifying your products and services
Reducing your dependence on domestic demand
Enhancing your competitiveness and innovation
Leveraging your existing skills and expertise
Learning about new cultures and business practices

Steps to Start an Import Export Business in Canada

Starting an import export business in Canada requires careful planning and preparation. Here are some of the key steps you need to take to launch your business:

1. Conduct market research

Before you start importing or exporting goods, you need to identify your target market, your potential customers, your competitors, your suppliers, your pricing strategy, your distribution channels, and your marketing strategy. You also need to assess the demand and supply of your products or services, the opportunities and challenges of the market, the cultural and legal differences, and the risks and costs involved.

2. Choose your business structure

You need to decide how you want to structure your business, whether as a sole proprietorship, a partnership, a corporation, or a cooperative. Each structure has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on your goals, preferences, liability, taxation, and funding options. You also need to register your business name and obtain a business number from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

3. Obtain an import export account

You need to register for an import export account with the CRA if you plan to import or export goods worth more than $2,500 CAD. An import export account is a 15-digit number that identifies your business as an importer or exporter and allows you to track your transactions and pay any duties or taxes.

4. Obtain any licenses or permits

Depending on the type and origin of the goods you want to import or export, you may need to obtain certain licenses or permits from various federal, provincial, or municipal authorities. For example, you may need a license from Health Canada if you want to import or export health products, or a permit from Environment and Climate Change Canada if you want to import or export endangered species. You can use the Canadian Import Export Trade System (CIETS) to find out what licenses or permits you need for your specific products.

5. Find a reliable supplier or buyer

You need to establish a trustworthy and long-term relationship with your supplier or buyer overseas. You can use various sources to find potential suppliers or buyers, such as trade directories, trade shows, trade missions,
online platforms, referrals, or government agencies. You also need to negotiate the terms and conditions of your contract with your supplier or buyer, such as the price, quantity, quality, delivery time, payment method, warranty, insurance, and dispute resolution.

6. Arrange the transportation and logistics

You need to choose the best mode of transportation for your goods, whether by air, sea, land, or rail. You also need to select a reputable freight forwarder or customs broker who can handle the shipping, documentation, customs clearance, and delivery of your goods. You also need to determine the Incoterms that define the responsibilities and risks of each party in the transaction.

7. Comply with the customs regulations

You need to ensure that you follow the customs rules and procedures of both Canada and the destination country when importing or exporting goods. You also need to prepare and submit the required documents, such as invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, certificates of origin, and declarations. You also need to pay any duties, taxes, or fees that apply to your goods.

8. Monitor and evaluate your performance

You need to keep track of your sales, expenses, profits, and customer feedback to measure the success of your import export business. You also need to review and update your market research, business plan, and marketing strategy to adapt to the changing market conditions and customer needs. You also need to seek new opportunities and challenges to grow and improve your business.

The State of Canada’s Import and Export Industry in 2021

Canada is one of the world’s largest trading nations, with a total merchandise trade value of over $1 trillion in 2021. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the country’s import and export activities, leading to a negative trade balance and a decline in trade growth. In this blog post, we will examine some of the key trends and statistics of Canada’s international trade in goods in 2021, based on data from various sources.

Canada’s Trade Deficit Widens in 2021

According to the World Bank, Canada had a total export of $388.4 billion and a total import of $404.9 billion in 2020, resulting in a negative trade balance of $16.5 billion. The trade deficit more than doubled in 2021, reaching $37.3 billion, as reported by Statistics Canada. This means that Canada imported more goods than it exported in 2021, which could have negative implications for the country’s economic growth and competitiveness.

The main reason for the widening trade deficit was the uneven recovery of exports and imports from the pandemic-induced slump in 2020. While both exports and imports fell sharply in 2020, by 12.4% and 8.5% respectively, imports rebounded faster than exports in 2021, as domestic demand recovered and global supply chains faced disruptions. As a result, imports grew by 10.4% in 2021, while exports only increased by 3.1%, according to Statistics Canada.

Canada’s Trade Growth Lags Behind the World Average

Another indicator of Canada’s trade performance is the trade growth rate, which measures the change in the value of exports and imports over time. According to the World Bank, Canada’s trade growth was -7.87% in 2020, compared to a world average of -3.91%. This means that Canada’s trade contracted more than the global trade in 2020, reflecting the severity of the pandemic’s impact on the country’s economy.

In 2021, Canada’s trade growth improved slightly, but still remained below the world average. According to Import Globals, Canada’s trade growth was -2.6% in 2021, while the world average was -0.8%. This suggests that Canada’s trade recovery was slower than that of other countries, which could be due to various factors such as exchange rate fluctuations, trade barriers, transportation costs, and market conditions.

Canada’s Trade Composition and Partners

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Canada maintained a diversified and dynamic trade portfolio in 2021, exporting and importing a variety of goods to and from different regions of the world. According to Statistics Canada, some of the top export commodities in 2021 were motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, gold, lumber, and natural gas. Some of the top import commodities were motor vehicles and parts, computers and peripherals, crude oil, cell phones, and pharmaceutical products.

Canada’s main trading partner in 2021 was the United States, accounting for 74.9% of exports and 51.4% of imports. Other important trading partners included China (4.2% of exports and 12.8% of imports), Mexico (1.6% of exports and 6% of imports), Japan (2% of exports and 2.5% of imports), and Germany (1% of exports and 3% of imports). Canada also engaged in trade with emerging markets such as India, Brazil, Turkey, and Vietnam.

Canada’s import and export industry faced unprecedented challenges in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected both the demand and supply sides of international trade. The country experienced a widening trade deficit and a lagging trade growth rate in these years, indicating a slower recovery than other countries. However, Canada also demonstrated resilience and adaptability by maintaining a diverse and dynamic trade portfolio with various commodities and partners.

References:

http://www.bankofcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/mpr-2015-07-15.pdf

http://www.bankofcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/inflation_control_target.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20180428221657/https://www.trade.gov/steel/countries/pdfs/exports-Canada.pdf

https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-platinum.pdf

https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-gold.pdf

https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-nickel.pdf

https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-copper.pdf
https://wits.worldbank.org/CountryProfile/en/CAN

https://www.importglobals.com/statistical/canada-Import-data

https://canadabusiness.ca/managing-your-business/day-to-day-operations/importing-and-exporting/