The COVID-19 pandemic has already had, and will continue to have, far-reaching effects on international trade, and given its heavy reliance on trade, on the Canadian economy. In the three months that have followed the initial...more
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has posted an updated list of verification priorities for January 2020. Verification priorities are established throughout the year and reflect the CBSA’s assessment of non-compliance...more
On January 1, 2020, the most recent version of Incoterms® came into force. Among the changes are a new Incoterm, DPU (described below), new carriage security obligations for each Incoterm, cost clarifications, and changes to...more
1/22/2020
/ Bills of Lading ,
Buyers ,
Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) ,
Carriage Disputes ,
Contract Terms ,
Cross-Border ,
Dispute Resolution ,
Exports ,
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) ,
International Freight ,
Sellers ,
Shipping
On December 10, 2019, Canada, the United States and Mexico signed an Amending Protocol that revises the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) and steers its path toward ratification....more
Goods imported into Canada are generally only subject to assessment of ordinary customs duty and goods and services tax (GST) or harmonized sales tax. However, during the course of any year, certain imported goods face the...more
11/13/2019
/ Anti-Dumping Duty ,
Anti-Subsidies ,
Canada ,
Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) ,
Contractual Safeguards ,
Countervailing Duties ,
Domestic Industry Requirement ,
Exports ,
Imports ,
Sales Tax ,
Trade Agreements
On September 17, 2019, Canada formally became a party to the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), an international treaty that aims to regulate trade of conventional arms, including small arms, battle tanks, missiles, and...more
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) updated its online statement of its current trade verification (audit) priorities in July 2019. Importers of goods targeted for verification would be wise to ensure that they have...more
There have been a number of developments in recent weeks affecting Canada's surtaxes on imports of certain steel, aluminum, and other goods to Canada. This post summarizes the recent changes....more
6/13/2019
/ Aluminum Sales ,
Canada ,
Cross-Border Transactions ,
CUSMA ,
Imports ,
NAFTA ,
Steel Industry ,
Tariffs ,
Trade Relations ,
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ,
US Trade Policies ,
WTO
Effective Monday, April 29, 2019, the Government of Canada discontinued its 25% provisional safeguard surtax imposed since October 25, 2018, on imports of concrete reinforcing bar, energy tubular products, hot-rolled sheet,...more
4/30/2019
/ Anti-Dumping Duty ,
Canada ,
Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) ,
Construction Industry ,
Contractual Safeguards ,
Countervailing Duties ,
Domestic Industry Requirement ,
Imports ,
Steel Industry ,
Surtax ,
Trade Agreements ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
In a reversal of long-standing U.S. policy, any person or entity with business operations or relationships in Cuba may soon face civil liability in the United States....more
Without fanfare or announcement, the Government of Canada made two important amendments to the provisional surtaxes on steel products imported into Canada...more
What Does This Mean For Your Business?
Effective October 25, 2018, provisional safeguard measures apply to seven categories of steel products imported into Canada from most countries. These provisional safeguard measures...more
Safeguards are exceptional measures intended to temporarily assist domestic producers that have suffered, or are threatened by serious injury from increased imports of specific goods. Unlike anti-dumping or anti-subsidy...more
Safeguards are exceptional measures intended to temporarily assist domestic producers that have suffered, or are threatened by serious injury from increased imports of specific goods. Unlike anti-dumping or anti-subsidy...more
After 13 months of negotiations, the United States, Mexico and Canada have concluded the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The USMCA is designed to replace the quarter-century-old North American Free Trade...more
10/5/2018
/ Agricultural Sector ,
Anti-Corruption ,
Automotive Industry ,
Canada ,
Exports ,
Free Trade Agreements ,
Imports ,
Mexico ,
NAFTA ,
Tariffs ,
Trump Administration ,
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ,
US Trade Policies
On August 14, 2018, the Canadian government undertook public consultations to examine whether imports of seven steel products warrant safeguard action.1 The products under review are: steel plate, concrete reinforcing bar,...more
On June 20, 2018, Bill C-21, An Act to amend the Customs Act was introduced in the Canadian Senate upon receiving third reading in the House of Commons. If enacted, the Bill will amend the Customs Act to allow the Canada...more
Since July 1, 2018, Canada has imposed 25% and 10% ad valorem surtaxes on the importation of a wide variety of U.S. "originating" goods. Canadian and non-resident importers have been wondering what they can do to avoid the...more
The Government of Canada has released its updated list of U.S. products that will be subject to a surtax when imported into Canada as of July 1, 2018. The final list targets approximately $16.6-billion worth of goods as a...more
As of midnight on May 31, the Trump administration revoked the exemptions to the U.S. ad valorem tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum previously granted to Canada, the EU, and Mexico. In a swift response following the...more
6/6/2018
/ Ad Valorem Tax ,
Aluminum Sales ,
Canada ,
Exports ,
Imports ,
Mexico ,
NAFTA ,
National Security ,
Steel Industry ,
Tariffs ,
Trade Expansion Act of 1962 ,
Trade Policy ,
Trump Administration ,
WTO
In a New Year's tradition, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has published its trade verification (audit) priorities for 2018. The audits cover three programs that affect the amount of duties and Goods and Services...more
The election of U.S. President Donald Trump has heralded a new protectionist era of international trade. Since Trump's inauguration, the U.S. has withdrawn from the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, initiated discussions...more
6/14/2017
/ America First Trade Policy ,
Anti-Dumping Duty ,
Canada ,
Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) ,
Countervailing Duties ,
NAFTA ,
Tariffs ,
Trans-Pacific Partnership ,
Trump Administration ,
US Trade Policies ,
WTO
2016 was the first year of the new transfer pricing reporting regime called Country-by-Country Reporting (CbCR). It will be a major new tool for revenue authorities and will undoubtedly lead to greater audit activity and more...more
As has become its customary practice at this time of the year, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has published its trade verification (audit) priorities for the coming year. The audits will cover three programs that...more
On November 16, 2015, we described important substantive and procedural issues that would be addressed by the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) in an appeal from a decision of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT)....more