Customs Notice 14-004, Refund of Duties under the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA)

Implementation

1. This customs notice is to inform you that the timeframe for submitting an application for a refund of duties under the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) is being amended. The CCFTA was implemented in Canada on July 5, 1997, and on April 16, 2012, Canada and Chile signed an agreement amending the CCFTA entitled Agreement to Amend the Free Trade Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of Chile, Done at Santiago on 5 December 1996, as Amended, Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of Chile, hereinafter referred to in this notice as the “Canada-Chile Amending Free Trade Agreement”.

2. Under the Canada-Chile Amending Free Trade Agreement, the timeframe for requesting a refund of duties paid on CCFTA eligible goods is being extended beyond one year. Specific information concerning this change is outlined in paragraphs 5 and 6 below.

3. Information regarding the Canada-Chile Amending Free Trade Agreement and its text can be found on the Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada Web site.

4. Proposed amendments to the Refund of Duties Regulations are announced in Customs Notice 14-003.

Refunds

5. In accordance with Article VII of the Canada-Chile Amending Free Trade Agreement:

For CCFTA eligible goods imported into Canada on or after March 1, 2014, an application for a refund of duties under paragraph 74(1)(c.1) of the Customs Act may be made within four years from the date the goods were accounted for under subsection 32(1), (3), or (5) of the Act.

6. In accordance with Article E-02 of the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement:

For CCFTA eligible goods imported into Canada prior to March 1, 2014, an application for a refund of duties under paragraph 74(1)(c.1) of the Customs Act may be made within one year from the date the goods were accounted for under subsection 32(1), (3), or (5) of the Act.

Intent

7. The intention of this customs notice is simply to highlight the amendment to the CCFTA customs procedures. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of all of the amendments that have been made, it is advised that importers review the Canada-Chile Amending Free Trade Agreement in its entirety prior to importing goods that may benefit from this agreement.

This customs notice has been posted on the CBSA website at: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/cn-ad/cn14-004-eng.html.