If you make your own Customs Declarations on the goods you export to Canada, the Canadian government has changed the way this will work from 21 October 2024.

The CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) protocol is a new digital initiative by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to modernise and streamline the process of importing commercial goods into Canada. This includes assessing and collecting duties and taxes.

Key Points about CARM:

1. Implementation Date: CARM will become the official system of record for exports to Canada on 21 October 2024.
2. Registration Requirement: Importers and trade chain partners must register on the CARM Client Portal by this date to continue importing goods into Canada on a frictionless basis.
3. Goods Included: CARM applies to all commercial goods, including clothes
4. Financial Security: Importers will need to post their own financial security to obtain the release of imported goods prior to payment of duties.

Why Register by 21 October?

• Transition Measures: To ensure continued border fluidity and timely submission of accounting and payment of duties.
• Release Prior to Payment (RPP): Importers must register to benefit from the RPP programme, which allows the release of goods before duties are paid

If you export goods into Canada, you will need to register on the CARM Client Portal by 21 October 2024. This registration is necessary to continue importing goods into Canada and to benefit from programmes like Release Prior to Payment (RPP), which allows the release of goods before duties are paid.

Details are available at: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/carm-gcra/menu-eng.html

It is expected that companies will be able to register for CARM after 21 October but there would be a period of delay in the release of goods until the transition to the new scheme is complete.

If you do not normally make your own Customs Declarations for Canada, you are advised to check that the organisation which makes declarations is aware of the new system and is ready. If you make declarations for goods shipped via a fast parcel service, check whether they have plans to do this for you or whether you need to register.

Helping UK fashion and textile companies to trade overseas

UKFT’s International Business team helps members to maximise potential sales, in the UK and overseas markets. We look at your product and help you to identify your competitors and define your potential markets, build on business that you may already have, or discuss changes that you may need to make to your product exportable.

We have produced a series of guides to some of the key export markets for UK fashion and textiles and the latest Free Trade Agreements. We have also produced guides to some of the key import markets for UK fashion brands.

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