NANAIMO – Bringing goods into Canada and sending them to other countries is not as easy as it sounds.
Importing and exporting businesses have enough on their hands making their products, and rely on experts like ISL Customs Brokers, a division of Summit International Trade Services Inc., to help them navigate through red tape and government regulations.
“We provide a service like a lawyer or an accountant would offer,” notes Gary Eng, General Manager of the customs brokers and trade consultants firm. “We basically offer services that help businesses deal with government duties and taxes and imports. We are a full service customs broker, and we offer all relevant services for bringing goods into Canada.”
ISL Customs Brokers are experts on Canada Border Services Agency rules and appeals, and can provide consulting to help people start an import business. They also can help set up warehousing for clients. Other services include importing vehicles, refunds and drawbacks, temporary imports and bonded warehouse entries.
Summit purchased ISL Customs Brokers from Brian O’Connell in 2019, and serve Vancouver Island clients from their office on Front Street in Nanaimo. Eng has been in the importing business for 45 years, and Summit, started by the Kendall family in 1991, has its head office at the Vancouver Airport in Richmond.
“We’re all about servicing the local market. We’re still focused on building long-term relationships at ISL and our goal is to improve the services offered,” Eng states.
ISL Customs Brokers team members are adept at helping clients with appeals to Canada Border Services Agency rulings.
“Our highly trained customs specialists are ready and happy to guide your through the process, and are ready to help determine the best course of action,” Eng states. “We can guide our clients step by step through the appeals process.
”We are dedicated to understanding the nature and inner workings of each clients’ business to best serve them.”
Business has grown steadily over the years, and although like many companies, navigating COVID proved challenging, “We’ve remained quite balanced. We dropped a few percentage points, but it has picked up and come back,” he adds.
Eng says the company is pleased to donate back into the communities it serves, and tries to focus on child-based organizations. They recently participated in the Cops For Cancer fundraiser.
“We believe strongly in giving back to the community and participate in a variety of charitable events, such as our very popular annual Softball Slam, with all proceeds going to the Hope for Kids charity,” he states.
Summit also serves the aviation and wine industries with consulting, customs clearances, refunds, duty drawbacks, appeals and all customs-related issues.
“We pride ourselves in helping businesses handle imports through all modes of transport — truck, rail, ship, and air — no matter which province goods enter Canada,” Eng concludes.
