Import Duties, Fees, Surtaxes & Taxes for Brides Shipping to Canada
If you're a Canadian bride purchasing a dress from a seller located in the U.S. or outside of Canada, this page explains the possible import fees you might encounter when your gown arrives.
These fees depend on where the dress was made (not just where it’s shipping from) and whether it qualifies under CUSMA (the Canada–U.S.–Mexico Agreement).
"Made in..." |
25% Surtax |
16-18% Duty |
GST/HST |
Brokerage Fee |
NOTES |
U.S.A (CUSMA) |
✔️Yes |
❌No |
✔️Yes |
✔️Yes |
Duty-free under CUSMA, but surtax still applies. Must be labeled “Made in USA”. |
Canada or Mexico (CUSMA) |
❌No |
❌No |
✔️Yes |
✔️Yes |
Duty-free under CUSMA. Must be labeled “Made in Canada” or “Made in Mexico”. |
Outside of Canada-US-Mexico |
❌No |
✔️Yes |
✔️Yes |
✔️Yes |
All non-CUSMA countries (Europe, Asia, etc.) pay duty but no surtax. |
Unknown or Unmarked |
✔️Yes |
✔️Yes |
✔️Yes |
✔️Yes |
CBSA assumes U.S. origin and applies duty & surtax if no clear label exists. |
📝 Final Notes
- GST/HST is charged on the full value including duties and surtax
- The 25% surtax (a retaliatory tariff) is in addition to all other import charges
- Always ask non-Canadian sellers to confirm the country of origin on the dress label
- The current UPS brokerage fees can be found on the UPS site