Blog Posts

 

 

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.

 

Have you ever worried that you might have missed something when filling out your customs paperwork? As an importer, you know how important it is to accurately declare your goods and back everything up with the correct documentation.

Are your goods getting stuck at the border, and you’re wondering why? Delays at the border can be frustrating, stressful and costly – and they’re also avoidable!

 

Because importers… not their brokers, not their suppliers… are ultimately responsible for customs compliance, sound compliance practices need to be woven into the culture of any company that moves goods across the border.