Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello,
I'm getting ready to drive through Canada back to NY from Alaska as I am getting out of the Army. Am I going to run into a problem with tone wood in my truck or have to pay duties? Or am I better off having them shipped? Any advice is appreciated. My BRW will be shipped obviously but I am looking to meet a fellow member in Seattle to sell a set of ziricote. Am I better off shipping or is it ok to cross the border with it. He is in Seattle which is my 3rd stop on a long journey across the US. Any advice is appreciated.

I am not an expert, but from what I read on other posts, duties are the least of your worries. CITES enforcement might mean that they just confiscate the wood.

I can't imagine you'd have any problems, especially seeing as you're shipping the BRW. And I don't think ziricote is restricted in any way. I could be wrong. You'll probably get more aggravation out of immigration e.g., How long are you staying in Canada? Purpose of visit?

Safe trip.

Steve

I would avoid any potential problems and just drop it off at my place on the way through.

There would be no reason for customs to hard time you about moving your personal property through the country. As long as it's not illegal to possess, shouldn't be any different than transporting anything else you own.

Moving from Alaska to New York. Stopping in Whitehorse, Banff and Vancouver. Then road tripping to Seattle, WA and then Cali.

I can only relate my experience brining wood from the USA into Canada (completely different laws).

I always declare that I'm carrying wood, declare the value of the wood, and always say that the wood was bought from a supplier, it is kiln dried, and has no bugholes or bark. I don't mention the species (I've carried ebony turning blanks, east indian rosewood, spruce, mahogany). After making my declaration, the agent has never even bothered to inspect the wood or ask what species. I think one or two agents have asked what the wood was for and I told them guitarmaking in one case and turning in the other case.

An interesting wrinkle is that if you can prove you bought the wood in the USA, and you're transporting it from Alaska to Washington transiting through Canada, are you actually importing the wood? I wouldn't rely on making that argument at the border

Anyway, be truthful and fully declare everything. The worst that will happen is that the wood is confiscated. However, if you lie or fail to declare something and the border agents find out....then there's real trouble.

I think contacting U.S. and Canadian customs is the safest route, Joey. You are bringing goods into Canada, and then into the US.A., and that might be two different sets of potential issues.
Did you get yourself some sitka tops from Alaska Specialty Woods while you were stationed there?
Good luck, and make sure you have good snow tires!

Alex

_________________
"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

What Alex said.

Check with customs before you set out. ID and declare your goods as you leave Alaska then you have proof for re-entry into the States. There should be no issue as long as you have documentation.

_________________
Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/