Shipping from Canada to the U.S.: How does Cross-Border Shipping Work?

Thinking of expanding your business or sending parcels across the border? Discover how cross-border shipping works from Canada to the U.S., including what to expect with customs. Whether you’re a first-time shipper or looking to optimize your process, this guide breaks it all down.

Ever wondered what happens when a shipment leaves Canada and makes its way to the U.S.? What takes place between the moment it departs Canada and when it’s handed off to USPS—and what could possibly go wrong along the way? In this blog, we’ll walk you through what happens behind the scenes and what you can do to help prevent delays.

The short answer? It all comes down to customs processing.

Customs Processing

When a shipment leaves Canada and heads to the U.S., it must pass through inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). As it crosses the Canada/U.S. border, CBP evaluates incoming shipments to ensure they meet all regulations and do not contain any prohibited or restricted items.

Occasionally, CBP may flag a shipment for additional inspection. If this happens, the shipment is temporarily held for further review. This is a routine part of customs processing and is entirely at the discretion of CBP—no carrier has control over whether or not a shipment is selected. The inspection process can take anywhere from a few hours to several days depending on the circumstances.

While inspections are sometimes unavoidable, you can reduce the likelihood of delays by making sure your shipments are well-prepared and fully documented. Including accurate and complete information—such as proper item descriptions, declared values, and a commercial invoice—is essential. In fact, some shipment information is not just helpful but required.

Reducing Chances of Inspections

Accurate Descriptions

Clear and detailed product descriptions are essential for smooth customs processing. Shipments with vague or incomplete item descriptions are more likely to be flagged for inspection—or worse, refused entry altogether.

To help avoid delays, your descriptions should specify:

• The type of product
• The material or composition
• The intended use (if relevant)
• Key details such as color
• In English

For example, instead of writing “shirt,” a more accurate description would be:
“1 black 100% cotton men’s t-shirt”

This level of detail allows customs officers to quickly and accurately assess the contents of your shipment, minimizing the chance of it being held for further inspection.

Values and Invoices

Accurate value declaration is a key part of getting your shipment across the U.S. border smoothly. Understating the value of an item—whether intentionally or not—can raise red flags with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and lead to your shipment being held for inspection. For example, declaring an iPhone 15 as $30 USD will almost certainly result in a delay.

Always declare the full retail value of your shipment—even if the item is a gift. Customs needs this information to properly assess duties and ensure compliance with import regulations.

To further support the declared value, it’s best practice to include a detailed invoice with each shipment. This is especially important for items such as gifts, collectibles, or high-value goods, and may be required by your carrier. For example, Chit Chats requires invoices for all collectibles and gifts no matter the value; in addition, parcels with a value greater than $300 USD require an invoice.

A proper invoice should include:

• Shipping address
• Billing address
• Item(s) sold
• Amount paid (must be in retail value)
• Method of Payment (i.e. credit card, cash, cheque, etc.)

For U.S.-bound shipments, invoices can be placed either inside or outside the parcel. However, we recommend attaching it to the outside, preferably in a clear pouch or sleeve, so that customs officials can verify the information without opening the package—saving time and avoiding unnecessary delays.

HTS codes

Due to recent policy changes introduced under the Trump administration in 2025, HTS codes (Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes) have become increasingly important when shipping to the U.S. These standardized numerical codes are used to classify the contents of your shipment. U.S. Customs relies on HTS codes to determine if duties or taxes apply and to verify the nature of the goods being imported.

Including accurate HTS codes for your U.S.-bound shipments not only supports compliance with customs regulations, but also helps prevent unnecessary delays. In fact, for certain carriers and services, HTS codes are required. For example:

• Tracked Packet USA shipments with Chit Chats must include an HTS code.
• All other U.S.-bound shipments originating from China or Hong Kong also require HTS codes when using Chit Chats.

To help make this process easier, Chit Chats offers the Chit Chats HTS Lookup Tool to assist you in finding the most accurate code for your goods. We also recommend cross-referencing your code using the official U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule to ensure it aligns with U.S. import standards.

Taking the time to correctly assign HTS codes not only improves your customs compliance but also keeps your shipments moving without unnecessary hold-ups.

Country of Origin (COO)

Last but certainly not least, the Country of Origin (COO) plays a vital role in U.S. customs processing—especially in light of policy updates implemented under the Trump administration in 2025. The COO helps U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) determine whether your shipment is subject to duties, based on its origin.

To avoid delays, it’s important to declare the COO accurately when creating your shipment.

💡Tip: Include the COO on your commercial invoice to assist CBP in identifying the origin of your goods quickly if your shipment is flagged for inspection.

If your product does not already indicate the COO (e.g., on a label or tag), it’s strongly recommended that you add a marking such as “Made in [Country]” or “Product of [Country]” directly on the item. 

Need help determining the correct COO for your product? Refer to our support article on Country of Origin for detailed guidance.

Be Prepared for U.S. Inspections 

Accurate descriptions, proper values, HTS codes, and clear Country of Origin details all play a vital role in reducing the likelihood of delays and ensuring that the inspection is completed quickly and smoothly.

At Chit Chats, we go beyond just offering low-cost shipping—up to 80% less than major carriers. We also provide expert guidance and resources to help you navigate cross-border requirements confidently.