January 2018

The Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) conducts audits to ensure that taxpayers are paying or remitting the correct amount of taxes.  In Canada, the CRA enforces Canada’s income tax, Goods and Services Tax (“GST”), Harmonized Sales Tax (“HST”) and federal payroll taxes laws.  These tax systems all have an element of self-reporting.

If the CRA auditor

The U.S. federal government was shut down at midnight this morning after a funding bill did not get 60 votes in the United States Senate. While the politicians work to find a solution before Monday, Canadians are reminded that the last U.S. federal government shut down lasted 16 days and a previous shutdown lasted 27

In early January 2018, the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) issued its January 2018 Trade Compliance Verification Priorities.  Twice a year, the CBSA posts trade compliance verification priorities for tariff classification, origin and valuation.  In the January 2018 Trade Compliance Verification priorities, the CBSA has hidden on page 44 a new target – “Import

On January 17, 2018, the Government of Canada furthered its “progressive trade agenda” and responded to calls from human rights groups by announcing that it is going to watch the activities of Canadian businesses operating in overseas markets more seriously.  The Government of Canada will create an Office of the Canadian Ombudsman for Responsible Enterprise

Canada

Countries, such as North Korea, Iran and Russia, may attempt to hide activities by using cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin). While the underlying activity of selling controlled goods or dealing with designated persons is illegal (under Canadian export laws) without an export permit/ministerial authorization, a secondary issue is enforcement.  Enforcement tools directed at “following the

Will President Trump terminate NAFTA?  Unfortunately, we don’t know.  Some days, press reports suggest a growing possibility that he will take steps to terminate the agreement.  Other days, President Trump’s pronouncements hint that he may be prepared to further negotiations. This leaves organizations in a difficult position.  If President Trump does issue a notification of

Canada

Canada effectively imposes economic sanctions against certain countries via the Export Development Canada (“EDC”) positions on where they will and will not or business.  EDC is Canada’s export credit agency.  The EDC extends credit to Canadian businesses (big and small) to facilitate export sales. EDC financial products and services include trade credit insurance, export

Canada

Canada’s export controls go beyond dual-use goods, chemicals, defence and military items, and other goods on the Export Control List.  Canada imposes export controls under a variety of statutes and regulations.  For example, Canada controls exports of cannabis, cultural property, hazardous waste, hazardous recyclable and scrap materials, rough diamond, human pathogens, honey, maple syrup,

The next NAFTA Modernization negotiation round will take place in Montreal, Quebec on January 23-28, 2018.  Will this be the last round of the negotiations?  Will President Trump threaten to withdraw from NAFTA when the negotiators are gathering on Canadian soil?  Or, will there be a seventh round in the United States in early March? 

U.S.A.

On December 20, 2017, Canada filed a Request for Consultations with the World Trade Organization (“WTO”) setting out various concerns with the application of U.S. trade remedies that Canada considers to be inconsistent with WTO rules.   On January 10, 2018, the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body circulated a communication of Canada’s 32 page