Blog Posts

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) posted on its website a few additions to the list of goods which are currently subject to its verification priorities.

Through verifications the Agency assesses importers' compliance with CBSA administered legislation, determines compliance within industry sectors and assesses the integrity of trade data received from importers.

 

The Single Window Initiative (SWI) is a streamlined process that allows importers to provide information to all requisite government agencies and departments through a single submission. The SWI has been phased in over the past three years, with full functionality available as of March this year.

Transport Canada announced last week (Dec. 18) new regulations requiring the adoption of two new technologies by commercial trucks and buses and their drivers. These new regulations mirror similar road safety regulations already in place in the U.S.

 

 

As previously reported in this space, the Auditor General of Canada completed a review of Canadian customs duties last March. In response to that report’s recommendations, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will be making changes to its compliance and enforcement regime over the next two or so years.

Customs compliance… It sounds important, doesn’t it? Well, it sure is!

 

You’ve certainly heard of customs compliance, but do you fully understand what’s involved?

 

The U.S. government regulates the import of all wood and wood-containing products into the U.S. And, because these items can carry and introduce harmful pests, their import is tightly monitored. Material made of wood that is used as packaging (such as crates, pallets, dunnage, etc.) is also subject to import regulations.

 

Every shipment of goods imported into the U.S. is subject to a Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF). The MPF has been in place for thirty years and its impact should be taken into account when considering all the costs of importing goods to the U.S.

 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced in a recent Federal Register notice that the MPF will be increased to account for inflation, with the new rates taking effect January 1, 2018.

ACE is the Automated Commercial Environment – the single-window system through which the U.S. trade community reports import and export of goods. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)  uses the data submitted through this system to determine the admissibility of goods into the U.S.

 

The words quota and duty are thrown around a lot when we’re talking about a country’s trade, economy and GDP – and the two are related in that they serve to control the impact on a country of importing goods.

 

…but let’s delve a little deeper.