This is more proof of low quality, inaccurate, unresearched, incompetent click-bait outrage generating media stories.
According to the car importer/customs brokers I emailed in the BUF/Niagara Falls/Lewiston area I corresponded with, the Canada-USA Free Trade 'Auto Pact' was dismantled and replaced by the USMCA by Trump last time he was in power. THAT is the time this reciprocal 25% tariff on 25 year old vehicles came into effect. The Yahoo news link story by the CBC takes you to a CRA page that shows the date of 2014.
I have a classic vehicle that I was going to take to a Mecum Auction in Kissimmee this winter. I had since found a buyer for in the US and I told him not to worry about the import, that I'd handle it all. Found out he'd have to pay 25% on the value upon being imported into the USA. Even with that, I'm still ahead selling it to a US buyer what with the exchange rate and all. But my buyer has since gotten turned off because it became a political Trump issue to him. (He hates Trump) Oh well, will advertise it soon enough.
But this guy who bought the Charger gets a double whammy with the crazy exchange rate PLUS the import duty. He obviously tried to import the car himself rather than hiring a customs or car importation specialist. If he could use the internet to find that car, he could use it to research the many requirements to import a car. So I don't feel a bit sorry for him. He is best to just try to re-sell it in the USA and buy one already registered in Canada.
However, IF the vehicle is being returned to the place of manufacture, then the tariff doesn't apply. The second generation Dodge Chargers were built in Michigan and St Louis so no go. My vehicle was built in Canada so same tough shit for me.
But the point being is that the reporter didn't even read the date in their own link contained in their own story!
This memorandum outlines and explains the Canada Border Services Agency’s policy respecting the interpretation of tariff item 9966.00.00 of the Customs Tariff and the goods that are eligible for consideration under this tariff item.
www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
Then they go on to blame the current Trump tantrum and irresponsibly stoke the current trade war rhetoric on false information.
