Blog Posts

Wood and wood-containing products can carry and introduce harmful pests, so their import is tightly monitored in both the U.S. and Canada. Wood packaging materials are also subject to import regulation.

While the U.S. has ratified the new North American free trade agreement between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, the document has yet to be ratified in Canada.

The new SWI landscape

The Single Window Initiative means several changes for importers:

End use tariff codes or conditional relief tariff items reduce or eliminate the rates of duty that would otherwise apply, provided that the conditions of relief imposed under the tariff item are satisfied.

The CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) project is a multi-year initiative intended to modernize and streamline the process of importing commercial goods into Canada.

Whether your goods are crossing the Canadian border or the U.S. border, avoiding the glare of Customs is every importer’s ultimate goal. Customs compliance and a strong internal compliance program is a top priority.

The new SWI landscape

The Single Window Initiative means several changes for importers:

Canada Border Services Agency prioritizes certain industries and products for audits to ensure ongoing compliance. The Agency keeps their verification priority list current on their website. Cole’s Audit Response Team also keeps track of trends we see in CBSA verifications, which we share with you regularly so you can feel secure about your customs compliance.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) targets specific industries and products for extra attention at the border to ensure that importers are compliant with requirements for tariff classification, product valuation, and country of origin.

Surtaxes can be confusing for importers bringing goods into Canada. They can arrive without warning and change just as fast. Cole’s Consulting department took the time to explain the basics of surtax for companies bringing goods and services into Canada.