Expert: Roberto Gomes - 8/30/2011

Question
I am traveling to Thailand on business with the intent on bringing commercial goods back to Canada in our checked baggage. We are in transit in San Francisco. Will we be required to pay duties on these products in the states? We will be declaring all the goods intended for resale in Canada, there is a personal limit of 1600$ in Canada. Is there a limit in the USA if the goods are not intended to stay in the USA? Is this a complicated process declare these goods? Any information is greatly appreciated. Thank you

Answer
Dear Alana,

Since you'll be transiting the US, the goods won't be staying in the US soil and therefore there is no need to collect the duties.
Just make sure to declare it on the US Customs form.

In the past the US Customs had a program called ITI bags that used to transfer international bags from one plane to another without the need of clearing them at the first US point of entry Customs. I really do not know if this program was back in place a SFO airport, but you can check with the airline when making your check-in in Thailand.

My best Regards,
R. Gomes