Timber Framers Guild Forums General General Forum Questions Importing a frame form the USA to Canada

Hello,

After years of debating how to finalize my cabin project, I am debating taking a second timber framing workshop, purchasing the frame and renting a truck ( or using a trailer with my Cherokee ) to bring it back to my land to erect it. The workshop would be in Main or Massachusetts. The logistics will be a bit complex, but not much more than what I would have to deal with in my neck of the woods location ( Gaspé Peninsula ) . How to deal with Canadian customs is my issue here. Does anyone has experience with this?

treizea,

I just sent you a PM - call me when you get the chance.

Mark Gillis

Mark, treizea,
Please share your experience with the rest of us when you figure out the answer.
Thanks.

Although I've never crossed the border with a pre-cut frame I do go down to upstate New York and bring back timber on a fairly regular basis without much hassle. There is no duty to pay on softwood lumber thanks to NAFTA, but you will have to pay HST on the value. And the tax is determined after converting to Canadian $, and conversion rates have been brutal lately as you know.
I suppose the big question will be whether they consider your frame a building or just a load of timber.