[Nov. 30, 2020 – Toronto, CA] – Recently, some significant changes were made to The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement’s (CUSMA) policies. Since it’s such an important aspect of importing and exporting in and out of Canada, the team from Argo Customs has collected some information here about the most recent changes.
Here are the most frequently asked questions related to the CUSMA updates.
Q: How are the latest CUSMA amendments applied?
A: The most recent amendments to the CUSMA regulations are applied retroactively.
Q: If my certificate of origin was issued under NAFTA but hasn’t been in effect for 12 months, will I need to have a new one issued, or is the old one still valid?
A: Unfortunately, the NAFTA certificate is only valid for goods imported under NAFTA and release on or before June 30, 2020. If will not be accepted for claims under CUSMA. Those importing goods into Canada moving forward will need to have a new CUSMA certification at the time of import.
Q: Our Vendor has indicated there is no possible way they will have the resources to issue a CUSMA certificate to us by July 1, 2020. I understand the general regulations of who and how the new certificate can be created and the requirements of each field; but I am not confident to issue an importer certificate because of changes to our vendor’s sourcing and routing in the current environment.
A: For many goods, there will be no difference between the NAFTA and CUSMA rules of origin. Therefore, the importer can claim preferential treatment for goods released on or after July 1st, 2020, and the CUSMA rules of origin will apply, including provisions on the CUSMA certification of origin.
Based on the above, the CUSMA certification of origin must be used to certify that the goods meet the rules of origin under the CUSMA, and as such, there will be no transition period.
More About Argo Customs
For years, the team from Argo Customs has helped streamline the Canadian customs clearance process with their customs software solutions. They’re procedural experts with all of the governmental agencies involved in exporting and importing goods in and out of Canada, including Industry Canada, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Environment Canada, and many others.
The specialists from Argo Customs can provide customs clearance assistance and exchange shipments with any country on any form of transportation, saving you a great deal of time, troubles, and resources.
To learn more about Customs clearance in Canada (import and export), contact us at 1 (888) 311-8303 or set-up an online account today!