Canada increases, harmonizes low-value shipment threshold with US

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OTTAWA, Ont. — Canada and the US have increased and harmonized the value thresholds for expedited customs clearance to CDN$2,500 and US$2,500, respectively, according to an announcement from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The amounts represent an increase from the current levels of CDN$1,600 for Canada and US$2,000 for the US.

In addition, Canada has increased the low-value shipment threshold to CDN$2,500 for exemption from North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Certificate of Origin requirements, aligning it with the current threshold of the US.

“The harmonization of the value thresholds for customs clearance for both Canada and the United States will facilitate and expedite trade between our countries, allowing customs to focus on maintaining a secure and efficient border, ” said Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews.

The changes were made as part of the government’s commitment under the Beyond the Border Action Plan to promote supply chain connectivity by harmonizing low-value shipment processes to expedite customs administration.

Minister of International Trade Ed Fast noted that, “Increasing and harmonizing these thresholds will allow an additional 1.5 million shipments to be cleared on the day of arrival, instead of these goods being held up in customs clearance.”

“Canadian and US businesses are the true beneficiaries of the Beyond the Border Action Plan and the change implemented today,” said Mike Tierney, president of UPS Canada. “Each day, more than $1.6 billion worth of goods cross our common border bringing the annual value of traded goods to more than $580 billion. Yet, every year $16 billion in trade activity has been lost due to border delays. This change will allow for swifter movement of goods for importers and exporters of all sizes.”

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  • What about exiting the US with motorized equipment ? Wait times can run into 9 hours standing in a hallway like a criminal waiting your turn,not even allowed a coffee or a chair. ??