New report is pulled from publication...

[21pro]

A new report at the Globe & Mail that was to be released on Sunday was pulled from the editors desk & I don't know why.

Anyways, it was about how at the Canadian Border, duties are illegally added to items that should be imported duty free under the Canada Tariff Act, through NAFTA and WTO.

It went on to list these items as duty free, regardless of amount you bring across:

Here's a list of some of the items that can be brought across the Canada-U.S. border without paying duty. (Canadian taxes always apply.)

Carpeting
Life jackets and belts
Skates (Ice and roller)
Sleeping bags
Textile articles (bedding, linen, towels, curtains)
Clothing (i think it's funny to see how people try to hide new clothes.
Footwear
Articles of plastic, rubber, steel, wood
Auto parts
Baby carriages
Beauty aids, cosmetics and toiletries
Bicycles and tricycles
Canoes/rowboats
Ceramic tableware (dishes) and kitchenware
Cleansers and other cleaning preparations
Coffeemakers
Cookware (stainless steel)
Dishwashers
Electrical ranges
Furniture
Gas barbecues
Golf clubs and balls
Groceries (taxable)
• Candy
• Snackfoods
• Soft drinks
Household batteries
Lightbulbs and light fixtures
Lubricating oils
Luggage
Machine for working wood (wood planer, tablesaw, chainsaw)
Paints and varnishes
Paper products
Petfoods
Photographic film
Pot pourri
Refrigerators
Single use cameras
Speakers
Sports and exercise equipment
Sunglasses
Telephones (Portable and cellular)
Televisions
Tires
Tools (electric handheld)
Vacuum cleaners
Wallets and purses (leather)
Watches (under $50)
Audio and video cassette recorders
Audio and video tapes
Antiques (must exceed an age of 100 years)
Breadmaker
Calculators (electronic)
Cameras, lenses and lashes
Clothes dryers
Compact discs
Compact and video disc players
Computers and related equipment
• Display units
• Keyboards
• Modems
• Printers
• Scanners
• Software (on CD-ROM, disk, tape)
Curling Irons
Electric shavers
Fax and answering machines
Flashlights
Glass and glassware
Hair dryers
Irons (clothes)
Microwave ovens
Motorcycle parts
Rice cooker
Sewing machines
Toasters
Tools (pneumatic powered only)
Toys
Video cameras
Video games and video game units

Come to think about it. These are the common every day items that most people will claim under the $200 per person cap each weekend (48hours) spent in the US. Funny thing is, the limit does not apply to these items.

Just to show u how much we're getting hosed here in Canada with the dollar being close to even now. Also if u feel like driving across the border this is a hot deal apparently.

Panasonic 42" 1080P TH42PZ700
Futureshop CANADA

$2699

VS

BEST BUY USA in Buffalo.

$1799 - $190 Instant Savings

If anyone cares. keep in mind this is for a 1080P PLASMA! And the 50 inch one is $2609 so even if u do have the money to spend you could upgrade the size for same CDN ammount. I think duty is 5% on TV's if the lazy border people will actually send u to the side to go pay it....correct me if i'm wrong.

 

[goodtime]

Custom weren't too lazy to collect duty when I cross few days ago. Suspect they failed to claim as I got the Goodtime wave on by from Custom.

 

[Hard Idle]

I thought under NAFTA there weren't supposed to be ANY duties on items made in North America, just sales tax??

 

[papasmerf]

I thought under NAFTA there weren't supposed to be ANY duties on items made in North America, just sales tax??

I believe that is only on items brought into the US.

 

[danibbler]

Where did you hear about this report being pulled?

 

[tboy]

21Pro: the problem is, many of those items you listed have to be manufactured in the US, Mexico or Canada in order to be a part of Nafta. For eg: computer displays. It isn't the fact that it is sold or distributed through a US compnay, it has to be made there. Many computer peripherals are assembled in the orient and distributed in the US.

Same as clothing. If it ain't made in the USA, it isn't exempt. (and Nike is famous for using third world countries to make their products).

 

[mmouse]

Apparently when you bring goods in, Canada customs will look them up on their system, from which they decide whether it was made in NAFTA or outside. But apparently, even if they decide to charge duty, if it clearly says on the box "Made in USA" or "Assembed in Mexico" etc you can get them to waive it.

 

[Keebler Elf]

This story was on the CBC website (maybe it's still there...).

 

[kbluejayk]

21pro...the $200 per person cap each weekend (48hours) was INCREASED to $400 last April.
Question: does the Allowance INCLUDE these items? or does it only apply to shopping that is subject to duty? i.e. could I buy a pc in Buffalo (and only pay Can tax, but no duty) PLUS various other duty free items PLUS $400 worth of duty free?

 

[t8rs]

21Pro: the problem is, many of those items you listed have to be manufactured in the US, Mexico or Canada in order to be a part of Nafta.

Right, and it's up to you to get documentation (Certificate of Origin) from the manufacturer/exporter stating that it is, in order to bring the goods in duty-free.