Source: WCO/Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
31.03.2020
The annex provides an example of communication material that the CBSA is using to share information with its commercial and industry stakeholders during this time.
Source:WCO/Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
31.03.2020
The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic on March 11, 2020, prompting Canada to implement the following responsive measures:
On March 16, 2020, Canada announced new restrictions to ban the entry of foreign nationals by air travel from all countries except the US. Canada also issued a customs notice for the relief of duty and tax for imported goods required for an emergency by Canadian health care centres and emergency responders.
On March 19, 2020, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) began providing a 45 business days grace period for imported goods requiring account declarations. The CBSA is suspending late accounting penalties released on minimum documentation from the period of 11 March to 14 May 2020. This grace period will be reviewed as the situation evolves.
On 20 March 2020, Canada further announced restrictions to prohibit the entry of foreign nationals into Canada if they arrive from a foreign country other than the United States.
On 20 March 2020, in collaboration with our U.S. partners, as a part of Canada’s effort toprevent the spread of COVID-19 while safeguarding global supply chain continuity, Canada announced that, effective 21 March 2020, persons providing essential commercial services while in Canada (ex. truck drivers) as part of the global supply chain may enter Canada if they do not exhibit COVID-19 symptoms. Persons exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms are prohibited from entering Canada. Non-essential travel, including tourism, has also been prohibited.
On 27 March 2020, Canada began allowing businesses to defer payments of the Goods and Services Tax / Harmonized Sales Tax amounts collected on their sales, as well as customs duties owing to their imports until 30 June 2020. Importers must still submit accounting declarations within the required timelines.
While these important initiatives will serve to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada is particularly mindful of the need to maintain coordinated regional and international action to ensure the integrity of global trade supply chains.
The US-Canada land border serves as an economic engine that supports over $1.7 billion (USD) dollars in daily cross-border trade. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States and Canada are temporarily restricting all non-essential travel across its borders. In each of our countries, we are encouraging people to exercise caution by avoiding unnecessary contact with others. This collaborative and reciprocal measure is an extension of that prudent approach.
“Non-essential” travel includes travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature.
The United States and Canada recognize it is critical we preserve supply chains between both countries. These supply chains ensure that food, fuel, and life-saving medicines reach people on both sides of the border. Supply chains, including trucking, will not be impacted by this new measure. Americans and Canadians also cross the land border every day to do essential work or for other urgent or essential reasons, and that travel will not be impacted.
This decision will be implemented on March 21, 2020, at which time the US and Canada will temporarily restrict all non-essential travel across the US-Canada land border. The measure will be in place for 30 days, at which point it will be reviewed by both parties.