john eden on sun 24 may 98
If you have a load of pots/sculpture etc. to transport across a part of
Canada I would phone Canada Customs first. They probably have a toll free
number somewhere. They could advise you on what to do. Even then I would
phone another day to get a second opinion. :-) When and if you get to the
Border, remember the Customs agent may not believe you when you say that you
are not leaving them in Canada but just taking a short cut and taking them
out again. They may ask you to go to one of those Brokers that hover around
such places so that you can get a bond. Bonds cost money. In addition I
would stop your side of the Border and get a piece of official paper that
says that you are taking out of the US whatever it is that you are taking
out. This seems strange but if Canada Customs allows you to do what you
want to do, you will probably have an even worse time taking the stuff back
into the US. You will probably have to prove that you didn't acquire the
stuff in Canada. You will not want to pay any duty etc. on your own work.
IF you are asked to declare how much it is all worth please do yourself a
favour and do not give the retail or wholesale amount but give them a price
based on the cost to you namely the MATERIALS plus a bit for producing it
(firings). Before anyone jumps on me and says that the cost of production
involves much more, let me say right now that I KNOW THAT. But if you have
to pay a brokers fee that is based on the value.........., perhaps you will
understand my reasoning.
I don't mean to stop you from cutting through Canada in fact I think
it's a great idea, BUT BE PREPARED. Actually I think you will have more
trouble with your own Customs people (if you dont have the paperwork) than
with Canada customs. I hope this helps, Cheers. John.
John Eden. Ceramics Dept. John Abbott College, Ste. Anne de Bellevue,
Quebec, Canada
Tel. # 514-457-6610 ext.395
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