Trade Matters
Summer 2008 Edition

Most Common Misconceptions in Dealing with Canada Customs

Businesses that import goods often make certain incorrect assumptions when they’re dealing with Canada Customs. If you’re making any of the following assumptions, you may need to make rethink your approach in dealing with Canada Customs matters.

You might assume:

We have engaged a customs broker to do the work on our behalf, so errors are not our fault. More..

Are You a Target for a Canada Customs Audit?

Each year the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) targets specific import products for trade compliance verifications (i.e., audits). CBSA audits cover trade program areas of tariff classification, origin and valuation. As outlined in its recently released target list, the CBSA has broadened its audit activities for the 2008-2009 fiscal year by increasing the scope of product categories from four to twelve. More..

Ontario Eliminates Labeling Exemption for Clothing with Shoulder Pads

Articles of clothing containing shoulder pads will no longer be exempt from the Ontario Technical Standards & Safety Authority’s (TSSA) labeling requirements for stuffed articles. We understand that manufacturers of articles of clothing with padded shoulders must comply with this policy change as of July 1, 2009.

At the time of writing, both domestic and foreign manufacturers will be required to label garments containing shoulder pads in accordance with the Ontario regulations. More..

Canada on the Lookout for Mexican Peppers

Importers of jalapeno and Serrano peppers grown in Mexico should be aware that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) began a border lookout on August 1st, 2008 for these peppers grown in Mexico due to potential contamination with salmonella bacteria.

CFIA service centres are releasing shipments that contain these items but the inspectors are following up on these shipments by taking samples to ensure they are not contaminated with salmonella. More...

Anti-Dumping Update

Aluminum Extrusions

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has recently initiated an investigation under the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA) with respect to the alleged dumping and subsidizing of certain aluminum extrusions originating in China. More...

Have You Got Your Supplier’s GST Number?

A person who pays GST to a supplier must have a valid GST registration number from that supplier at the time the input tax credits (ITCs) are claimed, as the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) confirmed in the case of Systematix Technology Consultants Inc. v. The Queen (2007 FCA 226).

In this case, the taxpayer did not have valid GST numbers for several of its suppliers when it filed its claim for ITCs. As a result, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) denied the ITC claims. Both the Tax Court of Canada and the FCA found in favour of the CRA. More...

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