LexSage

SME Importing and Exporting
Toolkits Posted on the CBSA Website

October 6, 2016

On August 22, 2016, the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) posted on its website toolkits for small to medium sized enterprises.  The toolkits cover (1) importing, (2) exporting, (3) other CBSA resources, (4) other governmental resources and (5) contact information.  However, the CBSA did not include the posting of the toolkits in its “Latest News” listing or the “What’s New on the CBSA Website” listing.  The toolkits are not highlights under the “publications” Tab on the CBSA website.  No notice was sent concerning the posting of the toolkits.

The SMEs toolkits were created with the assistance of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (“CFIB”). Both the CBSA and the CFIB deserve credit for this important initiative to help SMEs understand their obligations if they import or export goods.  The CFIB published an important report earlier this year entitled “Beyond the Big Border” in which they discussed red tape at the Canadian border.  The toolkits address the issue raised in the CFIB report that it is difficult for SMEs to understand what is expected of them.

As part of the SMEs toolkit initiative, the CBSA published a number of guides:

Step-by-Step Guide to Exporting Commercial Goods from Canada
Checklist for Exporting Commercial Goods from Canada
Step-by-Step Guide to Importing Commercial Goods into Canada
Checklist for Importing Commercial Goods into Canada

For assistance with Canada’s customs laws, please contact Cyndee Todgham Cherniak at 416-307-4168 or email cyndee@lexsage.com.

This article was originally published on www.Canada-USBlog.com. Republished with permission.