We have seen cases where the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) has taken away a Canadian citizen’s NEXUS card due to non-essential travel by the individual. In particular, where the Canadian citizen traveled by car to the United States for what the CBSA determined to be non-essential reasons, the CBSA officer at the land border
CBSA Extends Trade Compliance Suspension Until Further Notice
On March 26, 2020, the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) notified certain importers under verification that the CBSA was temporarily suspending trade compliance activities due to COVID-19 – see The CBSA Temporarily Suspends Trade Compliance Activities due to COVID-19.
On May 19, 2020, importers received an update from the CBSA informing external stakeholders that
Canada-U.S. Border to remain closed to non-essential travel until June 21, 2020
Canada has indicated that the Canada-U.S. border will remain closed to non-essential travel until June 21, 2020. “Non-essential” travel includes travel that is considered as tourism or recreational in nature.
The restrictions may be extended again. On March 21, the restrictions on essential travel across the border were implemented for a 30-day period in an
Unnamed Persons Requirement May Be Used To Obtain Names of Potential Tax Cheats
The Canadian Minister of National Revenue (“Minister”) may, under subsection 231.2(3) of the Income Tax Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 1 (5th Supp.) and subsection 289(3) of the Excise Tax Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. E-15, seek information from third parties in order to look for tax cheats. The request by the Minister is known
Imports of Chinese Goods Made by Uyghurs in Detention Camps Should be Prohibited by Canada
It is unclear whether the import prohibition set out in the Customs Tariff for Tariff Code Item 9897 prohibits goods made in China’s detention camps. Tariff Item 9897 prohibits the importation of a number of goods, including “[g]oods manufactured or produced wholly or in part by prison labour”. Unlike the United States, Canada’s import prohibition
Refer to the CBSA’s New CUSMA Page for Implementation News
The Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) has created a new dedicated Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (“CUMSA”) web-page on which implementation information will be posted to assist importers and exporters. CUSMA / USMCA / NAFTA 2.0 is scheduled to enter into force on July 1, 2020 and there will be no transition period. This means that importers
What are Canada’s de minimis thresholds for courier shipments?
When it was announced that Canada, the United States and Mexico had reached an agreement to amend the North American Free Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”), one of the important changes was an increase to the de minimis threshold, which is the monetary value of courier shipments that can enter Canada without payment of duties and taxes.
What are the top 10 COVID-19 remote working issues for Canadian importers?
Many Canadian import businesses have implemented remote working arrangements for employees as a result of COVID-19 government directives. Social distancing in business organizations can give rise to costly mistakes because business is not as usual. Importers have to adjust to the new normal and identify new (and existing) business risks. Most employees and managers are
Mandatory Paperless Export Reporting is Coming Soon
As of June 30, 2020, Canadian exporters will no longer be able to file paper copies of the B13A Export Declaration Form or use the CAED system to report exports of commercial goods. Canada’s export reporting will be paperless.
Exporters and customs service providers must be prepared and ready as of June 30, 2020
Time to Review and Update Compliance Programs to Address COVID-19 Remote Working
Most Canadian export controls and controlled goods compliance programs are built with the assumption that relevant employees who have access to controlled goods and technical data will be working in an on-site work environment and use work computers and in-house servers where information is securely stored with access and release restrictions and where work-related activities