Tradewin Canada is a division of Expeditors Canada Inc., providing creative and effective solutions in compliance, logistics and trade data management. Tradewin^® provides expertise in customs compliance and other government regulations to companies in every industry sector involved in global trade. We navigate through the complex waters of international trade... keeping our eye on the horizon.

In April 2000, Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (now the Canada Border Service Agency, CBSA) launched an Action Plan to improve the efficiency of the trading environment and bring it up to a level capable of handling current and future volumes of goods and information in a controlled manner. To achieve this objective, the Canadian government set out to motivate companies to be more careful about adhering to existing Customs legislation and become more responsible with respect to their trading activities.

CBSA's Free And Secure Trade program is an evolution of the CSA (Customs Self-Assessment) program combined with a PIP (Partners in Protection) program prerequisite. This initiative is designed to enhance public safety while encouraging increased trade. FAST participant status comes with the benefits of greater integrity of supply chain management processes, expedited clearance of shipments by reducing the amount of information needed for border clearance and designated lanes for participant traffic. The implied reputation of reliability, honesty and quality can also have an effect on your bottom line ($$$).

In today's unsettling climate of rising terrorism and organized crime, CBSA's Partners in Protection Program was initiated with the objective of making the supply chain a safe and secure trading environment. Certification is granted by signing a memorandum of understanding after your company has given proof that measures are in place to ensure the security of information (electronic & otherwise), employees and physical assets and that you have a plan to enhance, not only the security controls of your company, but also those of your trade chain partners. Tradewin^® will guide you through the required questionnaire and help you develop a security enhancement plan to present to Canada Customs. With adequate security controls in place, you will minimize your exposure to criminal elements and you will have fulfilled one of the requirements of the FAST registration process.

The Customs Self-Assessment program is a CBSA initiative designed to facilitate voluntary compliance for low-risk importers. The importer must prove they have the facilities and processes in place to use their business systems and related controls to produce accurate, reliable and complete information for customs accounting. Tradewin^® can guide you through the 3-step application process. Providing general information about your business activities is step 1. After CBSA has reviewed your background and business operations and given its approval, you can move to the next stage. Here CBSA requires evidence that your internal controls and linkages will support the CSA accounting and payment process through the testing and sampling of your automated systems. When Customs is satisfied that your company is giving reasonable care to its import operations, senior company representative will be asked to sign a Memorandum of Understanding as the final step in the CSA application process. This will solidify your partnership with the CBSA making you eligible to benefit from more efficient and effective trade operations with less government intervention. This will also fulfill the second requirement of the FAST program.

The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) now permits Non-Resident Importers, with branch offices in Canada, to participate in the Customs Self Assessment Program. Whether an importer is a resident or non-resident, all importers must meet similar conditions for CSA authorization and must follow the same application process. Non-resident importers may be eligible for the CSA program provided they operate a branch office in Canada and they have a current two-year history of actively importing into Canada.

The branch office must maintain separate books and records in relation to the Canadian business operations, prepare separate financial statements, file Canadian income tax returns, and maintain and control bank accounts in Canada. The NRI will account for the imported goods and is responsible for paying the applicable duties and taxes.

Can you afford not to act on the time and cost saving benefits you can reap under the FAST program? Be proactive and gain an edge over your competitors who choose the wait & see approach to CBSA's initiatives. Labelled by Customs as a high or unknown compliance risk, they are destined to experience targeted attention at the border and increased audit frequency, resulting in greater AMPs exposure and costly shipment delays, not to mention possible loss of market share to low risk companies. Invite Tradewin^® to assess FAST feasibility and recommend a strategy to put you at the head of the pack.

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REGULATORY - LOGISTICAL - FINANCIAL