Posts

Posted by Bob Kirke March 15th, 2024

When North American countries signed the successor to the NAFTA they included a provision for a mandatory review of the agreement six years after the agreement came into force.  The Canada-United States -Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)  must be renewed by July 1, 2026, and while that date is still two years away, CAF is beginning to prepare for this renewal process. (United States Trade Representative, Katherine Tai)   Recently, US officials have warned that there is potential for substantial amendments, underlining …

Posted by Bob Kirke March 14th, 2024

On the face of it solar panels have very little to do with cotton tee shirts.  One couldn't imagine, in fact, any two products that have less in common.  That being said, they have one thing in common and that is that they often contain raw materials that may be traced to a region in China where there are allegations of systematic forced labour. Over the last two years, the United States has implemented the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act …

Posted by Apparel January 13th, 2024

After more than a decade of efforts by the CAF, Canada has extended the Least Developed Country Tariff (LDCT) for 10 years, beginning Jan. 1, 2025. The regulations implementing the renewed program were released in October. Changes to the rule of origin and modernized customs procedures will take effect in January 2025. The recording from a webinar outlining the changes is available for viewing to CAF and VQ members only.     For further details, contact CAF Executive Director Bob Kirke: bkirke@apparel.ca

December 12th, 2023

  The Canadian Apparel Federation, together with the mmode fashion cluster and Global Affairs Canada, teamed up with the OECD to present a webinar on guidance for due diligence in the apparel and footwear sector supply chains. The OECD guidance page is here:    Link to recording here.  

Posted by Apparel October 28th, 2023

Canada has extended the Least Developed Country Tariff (LDCT) for 10 years, beginning Jan. 1, 2025. The renewal was first announced in the federal budget in March, and the final regulations were released in October. Important changes will take effect in 2025, including a simplified rule of origin and modernized customs procedures.   CAF will host a webinar before the end of this year to outline the changes. This webinar will be open to CAF and VQ members only.   …

Posted by Bob Kirke September 28th, 2023

Earlier this year, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) tabled proposed regulations that would have added major uncertainties to the customs valuation process.     In particular, the proposal from CBSA implied that the value for duty calculations might be based on domestic transactions: for example, the wholesale price charged to a retailer by a Canadian wholesaler. In July, the Canadian Apparel Federation (CAF) worked with hundreds of apparel companies across the country to bring the industry’s concerns to CBSA. …