On Thursday 12 December, we hosted the webinar “Trump and Tariffs: A Global Perspective of What Lies Ahead”. The session focused on the potential tariff impacts of President-Elect Trump’s second term in office, giving a global perspective on what to look out for, and how best to prepare. Highlights from our speakers are set out below. To listen to the full webinar, please click here. US Canada Mexico Latin America EU / UK Africa Middle…
Transfer pricing refers to the pricing of transactions between related parties within a multinational corporation, and ensuring these prices reflect market conditions and are not influenced by the parties’ relationship. Incorrect transfer pricing and customs valuations, including when importing goods across the Canada-US border, can lead to significant financial consequences, making it crucial for organizations to understand and apply the arm’s length principle.In this episode of In Focus, Baker McKenzie’s Julia Webster, Chris Raybould and Patrick de Laperouse…
This is not Canada’s first rodeo with an America-first, U.S. presidential administration. The President-elect’s recent announcement of 25% tariffs on “all” Canadian (and Mexican) imports echoes of 2018, where in his first term, President Trump applied 25% tariffs on Canadian-origin steel and aluminum products (2018 Tariffs). In response, Canada applied countermeasures targeting U.S. origin steel and aluminum and a range of U.S. origin goods. In this article we examine lessons from the tit-for-tat tariffs applied…
Following the first year of reporting under Canada’s Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act (the “Supply Chains Act”), Public Safety Canada has presented its inaugural annual report to Parliament and published updated guidance on the reporting requirements. As we look ahead to the upcoming year, it is important for companies to assess their reporting obligations and maintain their current momentum in preparation for the next reporting period. On November 15,…
As the final weeks of calendar-year 2024 draw to a close, we have highlighted some of the top trade issues impacting entities doing business in Canada and Canadian companies operating abroad. Businesses should continue to stay focused on trade compliance. We expect the developments noted below will occupy the time and attention of c-suite executives and trade compliance teams, alike. Summer 2024 was busy with government initiated-consultations focused on economic resilience and national security. After…
During a cabinet retreat focused on the economy, the Government of Canada announced the implementation of a 100% surtax on Chinese EVs, a 25% surtax on steel and aluminum products from China, limitations on EV tax incentives, and an additional consultation on proposed measures related to batteries, semiconductors, solar products and critical minerals. The Government cites the risk of trade diversion due to trade measures implemented by the EU (read our overview here) and USA (read our overview here) in its…
On July 4, 2024, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced its compliance priorities for commercial imports and it updated its 2024 trade verification priorities. In the coming months, the CBSA will closely scrutinize the application of customs procedures and programs and the declared tariff classification, value, and origin of certain goods. An analysis of the July 2024 compliance and trade verification priorities is outlined below. Compliance Priorities Tariff rate quota and classification of supply…
On July 2, 2024, the Government of Canada launched a 30-day consultation on proposed policy responses to surplus supply of Chinese electric vehicles (EV). This Consultation aims to canvas stakeholders on the Government’s policy responses to protect the growing Canadian EV industry from perceived unfair trade-practices in China and the risk of diversion of Chinese EVs to Canada following recent tariffs implemented by the United States (Section 301 tariffs) and the EU (provisional countervailing duties).…
The filing deadline for submitting reports under Canada’s novel Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour Act (the “Act”) passed on May 31, 2024. For companies that missed the May 31 deadline, Public Safety Canada recently confirmed that it is accepting late filed reports. The Act requires all businesses that meet certain operating and financial thresholds to file an annual report to Public Safety Canada describing the steps it has taken during its previous financial…
For the second week of our Annual Compliance Conference, we discussed key trade compliance issues impacting our clients globally. Specifically, we discussed the trade policy response of the US, EU and UK to ever increasing geopolitical disruption, global strategies for handling sanctions regulators and enforcement, and key global sanctions and export controls developments. Trade policy response to geopolitical disruption – China and beyond – Tuesday 7 May Speakers: Tristan Grimmer (Partner, London), Sylwia Lis (Partner,…