Hi Pelican Dave here in Toronto. Bottom line - purchasing stuff in the U.S.A. is often EASIER than in Canada. You often get better service in the U.S.A. We purchased our top of the line Subaru Outback from Van Bortel in N.Y. last summer and paid only $USD 30,500 (just had to email for a quote - that's it) all options and freight in, vs $CAD 48,000 best quote in Canada. Only additional cost - $190 + GST for the federal import fee - that's it. No Canadian dealer style B.S. of attempting to further pad the sale with glass etching fees - or worse "administration fees" for their sub-par service. Of course we paid Canadian (PST/GST/$100 AC) taxes to register it (but never paid any US taxes). Now that we are literally building a new home within our old home's 105 double brick exterior walls (totally gutted the interior - even gutted the studs, joists, etc), we're in the market for all new appliances, bathroom fixtures etc. Canadian dealers and distributors can go F*** themselves as far as I am concerned - and put that arrogant disservice attittude right in their ...... but I digress :-) You will pay no duty on any appliance manufactured in USA/Canada/Mexico, otherwise, as I understand it, duty is limited to 6.1%, since Canada is part of the World Trade Organisation. GST is collected at the border, and is calculated on top of the duty. Legally you are supposed to voluntarily declare your purchase to the provincial government and pay P.S.T. as well - as if you would - LOL. P.S.T. is not applicable to any energy star rated appliance in Ontario anyways. I plan to do the same for our bathroom fixtures. If you thought appliance fixtures were a rip off in Canada, check the Canada / US price differences on sinks, toilets, tubs, etc - often up to double the price in the U.S.A. Too many stupid, compliant, lazy Canadians, make for continued windfall profits for greedy, sleazy Canadian distributors, and their compliant, wimpy dealers. If only more dealers were like Walmart Canada, who temporarily pulled all Lego products off the shelves, until Lego cried Uncle, and agreed to sell their products here at the same price as in the U.S.A.

Some of the products shown were made in USA and may have been considered an import in Canada - It all depends on trade agreements. Imports usually bear a tarriff. In another example, governemnt imposed prices (controlled by taxation) is done to encourage limiting the product. The example I have in mind is way-back-when Evinrude made outboard motors. Comparable models were made in both Canada and the US. After factoring in the exchange rate between the 2 currencies and sales taxes, outboard motors less than 10 hp were comparable. However, for motors 10 hp and larger, the Canadian verfsion was out priced and the price ration increased with motor size. The price for a canadian 50 hp motor was twice the stateside cost. The difference was explained to me when I towed an old boat into Canada with an equally old 40 hp motor. The Canadian Customs urged me to watch that motor and chain it down when out of my sight. Also, measures were in place to insure that I took that motor back to the states or be prepared to pay a hefty fee. The Province of Ontario, in the name of conservation of its waters, had passed legislation placing a 'tax' on motors of 10 hp and greater. The tax escalated quickly with power increase and soom doubled the cost of the motor. Their reason was: They did not wsih to penalize a fisherman and so charged a nominal sales taax on motors less than 10 hp. At 10 hp and above, the tax was teriffic. A two cycle outboard's exhaust was vented under water and it carried lubricating oil plus unburned fuel. The government decided that the way to limit this polutant was to tax it heavily and pick up a nice piece of change at the same time. The result was only the rich could afford a motor large enough to water ski. Evinrude responded to this measure by producing a 9.5 hp motor with improvements that let it outperform the older 10 hp models. This was a break in Evinrude's motor sizes. In the past they had made motors in hp sizes of 5, 15, 25, etc. and Johnson Motors filled the gaps with motors in hp of 10, 20, 30, etc. Some accused Evinrude of derating the motor to come under Ontario's 10 hp limit. Product costs can vary widely in the US, too. I recall when I took my family on a touring camping trip, we were shocked in central Washington state at the cost of canned food stuffs.

One thing I immediately noticed about Kerrygold is that it was much saltier than the US butter I usually buy. My spouse likes salt so that was great, in his opinion! Interestingly enough, he doesn't care for European butter in things like sauces (it's a big deal here for upscale restaurants to drown some dishes in melted butter sauce instead of making a real beurre blanc). Being Asian, he doesn't like cultured dairy products like sour cream or creme fraiche - it took decades before he would tolerate more than a thin schmear of cream cheese on a bagel with his lox, LOL. So the European butters taste a little "off" to his tastebuds.

Here is a link with some helpful info... Here is a link that might be useful: Quality of fixtures