With few exceptions, importers of food into Canada require an import license issued under the Safe Foods for Canadians Regulations. The Canada Food Inspection Agency has recently issued the following reminder that failure to secure and appropriately enter your valid Safe Food for Canadians food import license could result in your food imports being stopped
Customs Law
CUSMA/USMCA : U.S. issues Updated Interim Implementing Instructions: Automotive
The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA or USMCA) will introduce new and complex requirements for the automotive industry. Not only will vehicle producers face increased Regional Value Content requirements starting July 1, 2020, but they will be required to meet the following requirements:
- minimum purchase requirements for North American steel and aluminum;
- labour value content requirements
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Are you ready for the July 1 implementation of the CANADA-UNITED STATES-MEXICO AGREEMENT (CUSMA/USMCA)?
The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), also referred to as the United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA), comes into effect on July 1, 2020. Are you ready?
The full CUSMA Agreement was signed in November of 2018, and later amended in December 2019. In April of this year each of the three parties notified that they had completed…
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…
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…
Remission Order Allows for the Relief of Customs Duty for Eligible PPE & Medical Goods
On May 6, 2020, the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) published Customs Notice 20-19 to provide information for Certain Goods Remission Order (COVID-19), SOR-2020-101 (“Remission Order”) under the Customs Tariff. In order to help the fight against COVID-19, the Remission Order allows for the relief of customs duty for eligible…
Food Importers into Canada Require Safe Food for Canadians Import License
With few exceptions, those importing food into Canada now or soon (July 15, 2020) will require an import license issued pursuant to the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations:
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- The Safe Food for Canadians Regulations issued pursuant to the Safe Food for Canadians Act (“SFCA”) came into force on January 15, 2019.
- These
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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.…
Federal Court of Appeal Determines that Rough Diamonds Cannot be Imported into Canada without Kimberly Process Certificates
In a recent ruling on February 24, 2020, the Canadian Federal Court determined in the decision of Tamba Thomas and Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (MPSEP), 2020 FC 290 [Thomas v. MPSEP] that diamonds being imported into Canada must be imported in accordance with Canada’s Import and Export of Rough …