CPTPP to be Implemented December 30, 2018

On December 30, 2018, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will be implemented in Canada, Australia, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore. Following this, on January 14, 2019, the Agreement will enter into force for Vietnam.

With the exception of a few agricultural goods, the CPTPP will essentially eliminate the customs duties on all qualifying imports into Canada from a country for which the CPTPP is in force (“CPTPP country”), either immediately upon implementation of the agreement, or through a tariff phase-out.

As of December 30, 2018, a new preferential tariff treatment is being introduced for originating imports from Australia, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore. The preferential tariff treatment is entitled the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Tariff and the newly assigned tariff treatment code is the: Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Tariff (CPTPT) – Code 33. This preferential tariff treatment will be extended to originating imports from Vietnam as of January 14, 2019.

For more information, please see the full CBSA Customs Notice 18-22.