Customs Services

Expected Outcome

Performance Summary – We have met this Anticipated Result as demonstrated by the following performance against expectations:

• we continue to harmonize and simplify trade and to promote consistent and predictable requirements for travellers through successful negotiation and maintenance of agreements
• we reached an agreement with the United States on expedited processing for low-risk commercial shipments and we have agreed on joint programming for travellers
• we continued to influence international standards and policy for customs and trade through our involvement with the World Customs Organization and other forums

We have continued to enhance the certainty and consistency for travellers and traders through our efforts to promote and export Canadian best practices and through the timely implementation of a variety of initiatives under the Shared Border Declaration.

We have been actively involved in the negotiation of free trade agreements to facilitate trade and contribute to establishing common rules and processes for the importing community. In 2002-2003, this included negotiations for agreements with the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), Canada/Central America Four (CA4 – Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras), and Singapore, and preparatory work for the potential negotiation of free trade agreements with other trading partners such as the Caribbean Community, the Andean Community, and the Dominican Republic. The success of negotiations is indicated in the finalization of individual agreements, such as the Canada/Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement, which entered into effect on November 1, 2002.

We continued to show leadership within the World Customs Organization (WCO) through our involvement in the Policy Commission and Council Session, various committees, working groups, and task forces. Together with the United States Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, we were instrumental in the WCO Council adopting a Resolution on Security and Facilitation of the International Trade Supply Chain. We have also worked closely with other government departments in the development of complementary initiatives, such as the Cooperative G8 Action on Transport Security. As well, we have been active in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secure Trade in the APEC Region (STAR) initiative, which augments the work undertaken by the WCO and G8, thereby contributing to trade facilitation, and certainty and consistency for traders.

Closer to home, we are working with our colleagues in the United States to implement several initiatives under the Canada/U.S. Smart Border Declaration to provide streamlined processing for pre-approved, low-risk goods and travellers at our shared border. Key elements of this agreement, such as Free and Secure Trade (FAST) and NEXUS Highway were operational in 2002-2003 while other components are still being negotiated. Details of these initiatives are discussed in more detail in Anticipated Result 5.

We are also ensuring that our customs laws, regulations, rules, policies, and procedures meet emerging trade challenges and provide traders with predictable processes and tariff treatments.

Date modified:

2003-10-29