GHY Tradelines

(CBSA)

In Brief

This memorandum contains the CJFTA Rules of Origin Regulations and provides a link to the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (FAITC) Web site where the Rules of Origin for the CJFTA may be found.

(CBSA)

Implementation
1. This customs notice is to inform you that the Canada-Jordan Free Trade Agreement (CJFTA) will be implemented on October 1, 2012. With the exception of a few agricultural goods, the CJFTA will essentially eliminate the customs duties on all imports from Jordan, either immediately upon implementation of the agreement, or through a tariff phase-out.
2. Information regarding the CJFTA and the text of the agreement can be found on the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada Web site at: www.international.gc.ca
3. The CJFTA implementing legislation, Bill C-23, received Royal Assent on June 29, 2012, and is scheduled to come into force on October 1, 2012. Bill C-23 can be found on the Parliament of Canada Web site at: www.parl.gc.ca.
4. Proposed regulatory amendments and a new regulation under the Customs Act related to the CJFTA will be announced in a separate customs notice at a later date.

Tariff Provisions
5. Pursuant to the CJFTA, a new preferential tariff treatment is being introduced, namely the Jordan Tariff. The newly assigned tariff treatment code is: Jordan Tariff (JT) – Code 27.
6. Entitlement to the Jordan Tariff treatment is determined in accordance with the rules of origin set out in Chapter Four of the CJFTA.

Proof of Origin
7. The required proof of origin is the Canada-Jordan Certificate of Origin, available in English, French and Arabic. In order to claim the preferential tariff treatment accorded under the CJFTA, importers must have in their possession the Canada-Jordan Certificate of Origin completed by the exporter in Jordan.
8. The Canada-Jordan Certificate of Origin and the instructions for completing it will be made available prior to October 1, 2012, in English, French and Arabic, on the Canada Border Services Agency Web site at: www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications.

Shipping Requirements
9. Goods may be shipped directly from Jordan, with or without transshipment, to Canada.
10. The transshipment conditions are set out in Article 4-12 of Chapter Four of the CJFTA.

Refunds
11. An application for a refund under paragraph 74(1)(c.11) of the Customs Act may be made within four years from the date that the goods were accounted for under subsections 32(1), (3) or (5), in respect of goods that were imported on or after October 1, 2012.

Updates
12. This customs notice is intended as an overview only, highlighting the future changes to the Customs Tariff and the Customs Act and summarizing the requirements to take advantage of the CJFTA preferential rates of duty. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of the CJFTA, it is advised that importers review the agreement in its entirety and consult Bill C-23 prior to importing goods that may benefit from this agreement.

Additional Information
13. For more information, within Canada call the Border Information Service at 1-800-461-9999. From outside Canada call 204-983-3500 or 506-636-5064. Long distance charges will apply. Agents are available Monday to Friday (08:00 – 16:00 local time/except holidays). TTY is also available within Canada: 1-866-335-3237.
 

(DFAIT)

Expanded opportunities in priority regions will benefit Canadian businesses and workers, Minister says

The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today followed through on a commitment made in the June 2011 Speech from the Throne by introducing the Canada-Jordan Economic Growth and Prosperity Act and the Canada-Panama Economic Growth and Prosperity Act to implement free trade agreements with Jordan and Panama. Minister Fast was joined by the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), and key industry representatives, as well as by Basheer Fawwaz Zoubi, Jordan’s Ambassador to Canada, and Francisco Carlo Escobar Pedreschi, Panama’s Ambassador to Canada.

“Strengthening the financial security of Canadians, creating new jobs and promoting economic growth through deepened trade are my top priorities,” said Minister Fast. “Free trade agreements with Jordan and Panama are a key part of our government’s job-creating, pro-trade plan to protect and increase the prosperity of hard-working Canadians. Our government will continue to defend and promote our specific interests in every sector of our economy, including supply management.”

“Free trade agreements help fuel small businesses which are the motor of the Canadian economy,” said Minister Bernier. “In fact, small businesses are responsible for 43% of all Canadian exports. These free trade agreements will help small business exporters do what they do best: create jobs and wealth for this country.”

“Free trade agreements also bring real benefits to Canadian farmers and our entire agriculture industry,” said the Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board. “These trade agreements will open markets and create new opportunities for our farmers to boost their bottom lines.”
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span style=”font-size:85%;”(Minister of International Trade)/spanbr /br /strongAgreement will expand trade opportunities with Jordanbr //strongbr /The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade, today followed through on a commitment made in the Speech from the Throne earlier this month by introducing legislation to implement the Canada-Jordan Free Trade Agreement and related agreements on labour cooperation and the environment.br /br /“The Canada-Jordan Free Trade Agreement, once implemented, will open doors to this growing economy and give Canadian businesses a real advantage in the broader Middle East and North African markets,” said Minister Van Loan.br /br /Upon implementation, the free trade agreement will eliminate tariffs on over 99%, by value, of recent Canadian exports to Jordan, thereby directly benefiting Canadian exporters and workers. Two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Jordan totalled $82.5 million in 2009. Read more a href=”http://www.international.gc.ca/media_commerce/comm/news-communiques/2010/113.aspx?lang=eng”here/a.

span style=”font-size:85%;”(DFAIT)/spanbr /br /The Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, on behalf of the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today introduced legislation to implement the Canada-Jordan free trade agreement (FTA) and related agreements on labour cooperation and the environment.br /br /“Farmers know that our government is working hard to open up markets around the world so that they can sell more products to more customers,” said Minister Ritz. “We are building a strong relationship between Canada and Jordan, and today’s announcement will boost the bottom line for Canadian farm families.”br /br /“The Canada-Jordan FTA, once implemented, will open doors to this growing economy and give Canada a foothold in the broader Middle East and North African market,” said Minister Day. Read more a href=”http://www.international.gc.ca/media_commerce/comm/news-communiques/2009/347.aspx?lang=eng”here/a.

span style=”font-size:85%;”(AP/CTV News)/spanbr /br /Canada has inked a free trade pact with Jordan that will lift duties on Canadian exports to the Arab nation.br /br /Trade Minister Stockwell Day and his Jordanian counterpart signed the agreement Sunday in Jordan’s capital, Amman.br /br /Canada’s forestry, manufacturing and agriculture sectors are expected to benefit from duty-free access.br /br /In return, Canada will give the Mideast country preferential trade conditions, including full exemption from customs duties for Jordanian goods.br /br /The deal is expected to be ratified by both parliaments later this year.br /br /Bilateral trade stood at about $92.2 million in 2008, according to a news release from Canadian government. Read more a href=”http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090628/jordan_canada_090628/20090628?hub=Canada”here/a.

span style=”font-size:85%;”(DFAIT)/spanbr /br /On August 25, 2008, the Government of Canada concluded negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) with Jordan, as well as on parallel agreements on labour cooperation and the environment. This year, the Government of Canada has also concluded FTA negotiations with Colombia and Peru.br /br /“We welcome this opportunity to expand Canada-Jordan trade relations,” said the Honourable Michael M Fortier, Minister of International Trade. “This bilateral free trade agreement will open up significant opportunities for Canadian companies in this growing economy, as well as elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa. It demonstrates our government’s continuing commitment to expand opportunities for Canadian exporters.”br /br /An FTA with Jordan will improve market access for both agricultural products and industrial goods, and help to ensure a level playing field for Canadian exporters vis-à-vis competitors that already have preferential access to Jordan’s markets. Trade between the two countries totalled $76 million last year.br /br /Upon implementation, this FTA will eliminate tariffs on the vast majority of current Canadian exports to Jordan, directly benefiting Canadian exporters. For example, in 2007, electrical machinery was subject to roughly $293,000 in duties (up to 30 percent on some products) on exports of $3 million to Jordan.br /br /The parallel labour and environment agreements will help to ensure progress on labour rights and environmental protection.br /br /“This labour cooperation agreement between Canada and Jordan will ensure that economic progress goes hand in hand with the rights of workers,” said the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec. “The successful conclusion of these negotiations marks the beginning of a long-term cooperative relationship between our two countries.”br /br /“The Canada-Jordan Agreement on the Environment marks another milestone in our two countries’ joint commitment to protecting our most vital of assets, our shared environment,” said the Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment. “We see this partnership as an opportunity to create and strengthen environmental laws and policies as a legacy for future generations.”br /br /This FTA also demonstrates Canada’s support for a key partner in the pursuit of regional peace, security and stability. These negotiations follow on the successful conclusion of negotiations for a new bilateral air services agreement and a foreign investment promotion and protection agreement with Jordan.br /br /Prime Minister Stephen Harper committed Canada to exploring the possibility of an FTA with Jordan when he met King Abdullah II in July 2007.br /br /Before signing the agreements and making them public, Canada and Jordan will undertake a detailed legal review of the FTA texts in English, French and Arabic. Following formal signature, the treaties will be tabled in the House of Commons for a period of 21 sitting days for Members of Parliament to review and debate. Following the 21-day period, the Canadian government will introduce draft legislation to implement the agreements.