How does the Canada-US trade war
affect cross-border shoppers?
Written By: Cyndee Todgham Cherniak
Date: July 1, 2018
On July 1, 2018, Canada imposed countermeasures (that is, 10% duties) on a number of U.S. origin goods. These new duties will apply to goods that are purchased by Canadians who shop in the United States. Canadian cross border shoppers may be asked more questions at the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) Primary Inspection Booth and may have to go to the Secondary Inspection Area to undergo a Secondary Examination or pay the cashier. This will add time to a Canadian cross-border shopper's return trip to Canada.
What U.S. Origin Goods Are Subject to a 10% Tariff?
Canadian cross border shoppers are likely to purchase groceries or consumer goods. We have prepared a handy cheat sheet (in alphabetical order) of the goods that Canadian cross border shoppers might buy in the United States. The following goods (and potentially similar goods that are classified under the same H.S. code) will be subject to the 10% tariff:
How does the Canada-US trade war affect cross-border shoppers?
By Cyndee Todgham Cherniak on July 4th, 2018 Posted in Canada's Federal Government, Countermeasures, Customs Law, GST/HST, tariffs
On July 1, 2018, Canada imposed countermeasures (that is, 10% duties) on a number of U.S. origin goods. These new duties will apply to goods that are purchased by Canadians who shop in the United States. Canadian cross border shoppers may be asked more questions at the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) Primary Inspection Booth and may have to go to the Secondary Inspection Area to undergo a Secondary Examination or pay the cashier. This will add time to a Canadian cross border shoppers return trip to Canada.
What U.S. Origin Goods Are Subject to a 10% Tariff?
Canadian cross border shoppers are likely to purchase groceries or consumer goods. We have prepared a handy cheat sheet (in alphabetical order) of the goods that Canadian cross border shoppers might buy in the United States. The following goods (and potentially similar goods that are classified under the same H.S. code) will be subject to the 10% tariff:
- Adhesives;
- Aerated Water;
- Aluminum Doors, Windows and Frames;
- Aluminum Kitchen or Household Articles;
- Aluminum Nails;
- Aluminum Scouring Pads;
- Aluminum Screws;
- Aluminum Staples;
- Aluminum Tacks;
- Aluminum Washers;
- Ball Point Pens;
- BBQ Sauce;
- Bedding;
- Bobbins;
- Bourbon;
- Broth;
- Candles;
- Candy – Chocolate Bars or Slabs (filled);
- Candy – Chocolate Bars or Slabs (not filled);
- Candy – Licorice (red, black and allsorts);
- Cast Iron Grills;
- Coffee – Roasted – not decaffeinated;
- Comforters;
- Confectionaries;
- Cooking Chambers;
- Cucumbers;
- Dishwashers;
- Dishwasher Detergent;
- Dryers;
- Facial Cleansers;
- Facial Tissues;
- Freezers;
- Fungicides;
- Gherkins;
- Glue;
- Greeting Cards;
- Face Cleaners;
- Felt Tipped Pens;
- Hair Lacquers;
- Handkerchiefs;
- Herbicides;
- Incense;
- Inflatable Boats;
- Insecticides;
- Kitchenware;
- Laminated Wood;
- Lawn Mowers;
- Maple Sugar;
- Maple Syrup;
- Markers;
- Mattresses;
- Mayonnaise;
- Mineral Water;
- Meat-Beef;
- Meat-Spent Fowl;
- Mixed Condiments;
- Mixed Seasonings;
- Motor Boats;
- Nail Polish;
- Nail Polish Remover;
- Nail Decorations;
- Orange Juice (not frozen);
- Organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin;
- Outboard Motor Boats;
- Ovens;
- Paper;
- Paperboard;
- Pickles;
- Pillows;
- Pizza;
- Plastic bags and sacks;
- Plastic Household Articles;
- Plastic Hygienic Articles;
- Plastic Toilet Articles;
- Playing Cards;
- Pleasure Boats;
- Plywood;
- Plywood, consisting solely of sheets of wood (other than bamboo), each ply not exceeding 6 mm thickness; Other, with both outer plies of coniferous wood;
- Postcards;
- Prepared Meals that contain Beef;
- Prepared Meals that contain Spent Fowl (e.g., Chicken or Turkey);
- Printed Cards;
- Quiche;
- Quilts;
- Ranges;
- Razors;
- Refrigerators;
- Room Deodorizers;
- Room Fresheners;
- Room Sprays;
- Salad Dressing;
- Sauces;
- Seats with Wooden Frames;
- Serviettes;
- Shaving Cream;
- Shaving Lotion;
- Sailboats;
- Sleeping Bags;
- Soap;
- Soya Sauce;
- Spagetti Sauce;
- Spools;
- Stoves;
- Strawberry Jam;
- Table Cloths;
- Tableware;
- Tapers/Candles;
- Tissue Paper;
- Toilet Paper;
- Tomato Ketchup;
- Tomato Sauces;
- Upholstered Seats with a wooden frame;
- Veneer Panels;
- Washig Machines;
- Water;
- Water – Flavoured;
- Water – Sweetened;
- Water Heaters;
- Whiskey; and
- Yogurt.
In addition, other aluminum goods are subject to a 10% tariff and steel products are subject to a 25% tariff. The complete lists 1, 2 and 3 are posted by the Government of Canada.
Do Canadians have to pay the countermeasures/tariffs?
The answer is yes. Canadian consumers will have to pay the tariffs if they go shopping. In a Canadian resident is outside Canada for less than 24 hours, they must report all goods purchased or acquired outside Canada and must pay all applicable duties and taxes. There is no personal exemption limit (there used to be a limit of $50, but it has not been available for a while). So, if a Canadian resident buys $CDN 100 of U.S. origin chocolate, he/she should expect to pay tariffs of $10 and applicable GST/HST on $CDN 110 (the tariff included converted price).
A Canadian resident who is outside Canada for more than 24 hours and less than 48 hours cannot import alcohol under the personal exemption limit of $200. This would mean the Canadian resident would have to pay duties of 10% on any whiskey or bourbon and all applicable GST/HST on the tariff included converted price.
If a Canadian resident who is outside Canada for more than 24 hours and less than 48 hours returns with more than $CDN worth of goods, full duties (including the countermeasures tariffs) and GST/HST/sales tax must be paid on all the goods.
Do Visitors to Canada have to pay thecountermeasures/tariffs?
The answer is yes. A visitor to Canada must declare all goods that he/she importing that the visitor intends to consumer in Canada or leave in Canada (e.g., provide to a Canadian resident as a gift). Gifts valued at $CDN 60 or less each may be brought into Canada duty free and tax free. Gifts worth more than $60 CDN are subject to duty on the excess amount. Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and advertising materials do not qualify as gifts.
NEXUS
If a NEXUS Card holder fails to declare to the CBSA goods that are subject to the countermeasures tariffs, the CBSA may confiscate their NEXUS Card.
If you require more information, please contact Cyndee Todgham Cherniak at 416-307-4168 or at cyndee@lexsage.com.
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