AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
Nigerian beads and costume jewellery are commercial imports when you bring them in to sell: they need a tariff classification, a declared value and country of origin, and duty and GST are paid when you account for them with CBSA. The rate depends on what each piece is made of and whether Nigerian origin qualifies for a preferential tariff, so classify each product line before your first order. Old beads and artefacts may not leave Nigeria at all: the Nigeria Customs Service export prohibition list includes artefacts and antiquities.
Coral and glass bead necklaces for weddings, brass and bronze bangles, waist beads, beaded bags and costume earrings from markets in Lagos, Bida and Ilorin are steady sellers in Canada, both to Nigerian customers and to a wider market. Most of this trade starts in a suitcase. As soon as it is regular, it is an import business with the same customs rules as any other, and a few that are specific to jewellery.
Step one: what exactly are you importing?
CBSA's import guide says classification decides the duty rate, and should be based on descriptive literature, composition and samples. For beads and jewellery the material is what drives classification, so describe each line precisely:
- Loose beads by material: glass, plastic, coral, stone, wood, bone, metal.
- Finished costume jewellery: necklaces, bracelets, earrings, with the main material named.
- Pieces containing precious metal or precious or semi-precious stones, which are classified differently from costume jewellery.
- Beaded items that are really something else, such as bags, belts or hair accessories.
Write the composition on the supplier's invoice line by line. "Assorted jewellery" invites questions and may be classified at a higher rate. To find the rate for each code, see finding the tariff rate for Nigerian goods.
Step two: origin and tariff treatment
CBSA's guide stresses that country of origin is where goods are made, produced or grown, not the country they were shipped from. Beads made in Nigeria and strung there are Nigerian; Czech glass beads strung in Lagos may not be. Origin decides which tariff treatment you can claim, and proof-of-origin requirements are in CBSA memo D11-4-2. Whether Nigerian goods qualify for a preferential rate, and what proof you need, is covered in does Nigeria get preferential tariffs in Canada. Ask your supplier to state the country of manufacture of beads and findings on the invoice.
Step three: marking, safety and other rules
CBSA's guide points importers to memo D11-3-1, Marking of Imported Goods, for country-of-origin marking, and to its reference list of other government departments for goods that need permits or must meet other rules. For jewellery, check three things before you order:
- Origin marking. Whether your product category must be marked with its country of origin under D11-3-1, and how (on the item, a tag or the packaging).
- Children's items. If any pieces are designed for children, check Health Canada's consumer product safety requirements for children's jewellery before you import.
- Precious metal claims. If you describe or stamp items as gold or silver, check Canada's precious metals marking rules; costume pieces should not carry quality marks they do not meet.
Coral can also raise wildlife trade questions depending on the species. If you import natural coral, ask CBSA or Environment and Climate Change Canada whether a permit is needed for your material.
Step four: the Nigerian side
The Nigeria Customs Service export prohibition list includes artefacts and antiquities, alongside items such as raw hides and skins. New beads and modern jewellery are ordinary goods, but old trade beads, brass castings or anything sold as antique may fall into that category. Ask your supplier to confirm, and do not buy pieces described as antique for export without advice. The Nigerian exporter also completes the CBN's Form NXP for commercial exports; Mondaq's summary of the e-Form NXP circular says it is filed on the Trade Monitoring System with a valid tax identification number.
Pricing check before you order
Ask the supplier for one sample of each line and photographs of the back and clasp. Note the material, weight and any markings, and decide the tariff code for each before you place a bulk order. Doing this once, with a broker if needed, saves arguments at the border later and gives you a landed cost per piece that you can price from.
Declaring and paying in Canada
If you bring stock in your luggage, it does not count towards your personal exemption: CBSA says goods for commercial use or for another person do not qualify. Declare it as commercial, carry receipts, and expect to pay before release; see declaring goods for resale in your luggage. By courier or cargo, the goods are released and accounted for like any other commercial import.
Worked example
Example only, with assumed rates: 200 coral-effect glass bead sets bought for ₦10,000,000, which converts to about CAN$9,000 at an assumed rate. If the applicable duty were 8.5%, duty would be CAN$765; with GST assumed at 5% for illustration on CAN$9,765, tax would be CAN$488.25, for CAN$1,253.25 in total, or about CAN$6.27 per set. A preferential rate would cut the duty part. Use the real rate for your codes and the exchange rate on the day.
Where Pryme fits
Bead makers and market traders usually want naira, often in advance. A Pryme business account gives your business naira account details for paying them, and Swap converts from USD, GBP or EUR when you choose, with the rate and fee shown first. A verifiable receipt of each payment supports the value you declare.
Questions people ask
Do I pay duty on Nigerian beads I bring to Canada to sell?
Yes, unless the tariff rate for your goods and origin is zero. Goods for resale do not qualify for the personal exemption, and GST applies as well.
How do I find the tariff code for costume jewellery?
Classify by material and type, using the composition on the invoice and CBSA's customs tariff. Precious metal and stone items are classified differently from costume pieces.
Can I export antique beads from Nigeria?
The Nigeria Customs Service export prohibition list includes artefacts and antiquities. Do not export pieces sold as antique without advice.
Does jewellery from Nigeria need a country of origin label?
Check CBSA memo D11-3-1, Marking of Imported Goods, for your product category.
Sources
- CBSA: Step-by-step guide to importing commercial goods into Canada (archived) · accessed Oct 2026
- CBSA: Declare goods and personal exemptions (modified 25 Nov 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Nigeria Customs Service: Export prohibition list · accessed Oct 2026
- Mondaq (Deloitte): CBN introduces e-Form NXP (14 Nov 2019) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.