Exporters

Useful links

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection
  U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the primary enforcement agency protecting the U.S. borders. Their Web site contains useful information for Canadians exporting to the U.S.

• New USFDA Import Rules - Exports of Food and Animal Feed
  On June 4, 2004, the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) implemented the third phase of the Bioterrorism Act (BTA) and introduced new import rules for food and animal feed products. The new rules are designed to strengthen the safety of the U.S. food supply against bioterrorism.

• ExportSource
  ExportSource is Team Canada Incorporated's on-line resource for export information and contacts. It provides information relating to all trade-related government departments and agencies including such subjects as: preparing to export, marketing research, marketing your exports, and entering the market.

• The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service
  Visit the Web site of the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service at International Trade Canada. This site provides free access to hundreds of sectoral market studies and country-specific reports. These reports are intended to help Canadian companies identify foreign opportunities and learn more about their target market.

• Export Development Canada
  For Canadian exporters looking for financing assistance or information that will help them determine the various level of exposure to risk they might encounter while doing business with clients located in various countries.

• Certificates of origin
  For Canadian exporters doing business under a free trade agreement, a certificate of origin must be completed in order for the importer in the foreign country to be able to claim preferential tariff treatment.

  Certificates of origin include:

  • North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (PDF, 227  KB) [help with PDF files]
  • Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA) (PDF, 20  KB) [help with PDF files]
  • Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) (PDF, 64  KB) [help with PDF files]

  For more information, please see: Memorandum D11-4-14 Certification of Origin

• Duty Deferral Program
  The Duty Deferral Program is designed to allow, in certain circumstances, importers, producers, and exporters, to either relieve or defer the payment of import duties on imported goods. For more information, please see: Memorandum D20-1-4 Proof of Export, Canadian Ownership, and Destruction of Commercial Goods

• Business account registration
  The Business Number (BN) is an account number assigned to a business to deal with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business accounts.

• Import/Export account
  If you import goods into Canada or export goods to other countries, you should register your import/export account number to process customs documents. In order to avoid delays in releasing your goods at the border, open your account before you import or export goods.

• Goods and services tax (GST)/harmonized sales tax (HST)
  There are various situations that entitle Canadian and non-resident individuals or businesses to a GST/HST rebate. Click on the link above to find out if this is relevant to you, and how to apply for a GST/HST rebate.