Shipping goods internationally can be overwhelming, but thankfully there are services that can assist with this, at times painful, process.
Shipping Firms
Shipping firms can cover the entire transport of your shipment from end-to-end, or provide conveyance for just one leg of the journey, depending on the company’s scope.
International firms, like UPS and FedEx, can usually get your product from A-to-B anywhere in the world using a combination of their own global logistics networks and third party contractors.
National shipping firms like CN have extensive infrastructure within North America, and can utilize a network of partners to get your goods to overseas destinations.
Smaller firms may only transport your goods within Canada, in which case you will need to find a separate firm to take them overseas, and, if you choose, to your customer’s place of business in your target market.
Deciding what kind of firm to use comes down to cost, timing and convenience. You need to decide when your goods have to be delivered, how much cash you are willing to spend and how much time you have to spend dealing with the details.
Many large, international shipping firms offer a full suite of services, including in-house customs brokerage.
The process of getting your goods overseas is incredibly complicated, so having a customs broker is highly recommended (and in many cases mandatory).
This video from FedEx offers some tips on preparing your shipment for international freight, and while it is geared toward American exporters, the basics are universally applicable:
Customs Brokers
Custom brokers can ease the process of clearing customs.
They are typically licensed by local customs regulators, and have in-depth knowledge of that country’s customs laws, tariffs, export regulations, shipping procedures and trade documentation.
In most countries, you are required to use a local broker to clear your goods.
Brokers serve the following functions:
Freight forwarders
Freight forwarders do not ship your goods, but instead coordinate with shipping firms, customs brokers and insurance firms to create a supply chain for your product, doing much of the hard work on your behalf.
These services can negotiate rates with shipping lines, airlines, trucking companies, customs brokers and insurance firms. They can also handle the logistics of your shipping, provide the benefit of improving your delivery times and customer service, and typically offer a service that is more cost-effective than doing it yourself.
Freight forwarders perform a variety of services:
Exercise diligence when picking a freight forwarder: ensure that the firm you choose has a good credit rating and payment record, and that they have a list of satisfied customers you can reference. If the freight forwarder is a member of the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association, this also bodes well.
Freight forwarders can make the process of international shipping relatively painless, especially if you are using multiple shipping carriers to get your products to their destination. If you have merchandise that needs to find its way across the world, this is a service worth looking into.
Insurance
International carriers only assume limited liability, leaving the exporter responsible for the goods up to the point of delivery.
As such, transportation insurance is a must have.
Marine transport insurance protects both sea- and air-bound goods and connecting land transportation.
These are the three main types of marine insurance:
Marine insurance covers the following types of risk:
Catastrophic Risk: Shipwreck, fire, flood or collision—risks associated with the mode of transportation
Accidental Risk: Dropping, crushing, breaking, corrosion, contamination
War and Political Risks: Wars, strikes, terrorism, civil unrest
Theft and Willful Damage: Theft, piracy, malicious damage, non-delivery
Goods shipped by sea are usually insured for 110 per cent of their value, to compensate for extra costs involved in replacing lost goods.
Duty Relief
Individuals importing goods to re-export them may be able to make use of the Duties Deferral Program, run by the Canadian Border Services Agency, along with other programs run by the Canada Revenue Agency.
These program relieve or defer duty payments if the goods are in transit through Canada or being processed in Canada for the purpose of being exported, and will not be sold on Canadian soil.
For more information, consult section 5.2.