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

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:

    • The Safe Food for Canadians Regulations issued pursuant to the Safe Food for Canadians Act (“SFCA”) came into force on January 15, 2019.
    • These

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

In normal times, the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) conducts verifications (audits) of importers to ensure that they are in compliance with Canadian customs laws (e.g., origin, tariff classification, valuation, etc.).  On March 26, 2020, we received the following notification from a CBSA Trade Compliance Officer with whom we are engaged on a file:

“Due

To this point, nothing official has been published about changes to the 301 tariffs on Chinese goods, not even a Tweet!  What has circulated is the comments from President Trump on October 11 from the White House that negotiations with the Chinese were going well enough that the rise in tariffs from 25% to 30%

Today (September 11, 2019), President Trump announced a short reprieve for goods on Lists 1, 2 and 3. The 301 tariff on those Chinese goods will still rise from 25% to 30%, but now instead of that happening on October 1, 2019, the effective date will be October 15, 2019. The stated reason for the

Originally published by the Journal of Commerce in August 2019

Much has been said recently in the general press about the latest round of tariffs and what did or did not prompt President Trump to decide that August 1st was the right time to impose an additional 10% on the goods from China on the

PS – The links USTR originally provided to List 4A and List 4B which are found below, are no longer available. In their place, please see 84 FR 43304 published August 20, 2019 or https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement/301Investigations/Notice_of_Modification_%28List_4A_and_List_4B%29.pdf.

While the Federal Register notice containing all the relevant details has yet to be published, today, the U.S. Trade Representative

The Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) has the power to issue fines of up to $CDN 1,300 if you fail to report meat in your possession.  The CBSA has the authority to examine goods in the possession on travelers arriving in Canada and airports, land border crossings and at other ports of entry. The CBSA