CANADA CUSTOMS, CARRIERS PUSH FOR AUTOMATED EXPORT DATA

CANADA CUSTOMS, CARRIERS PUSH FOR AUTOMATED EXPORT DATA

   Canada Customs, the Railway Association of Canada and ocean carriers are studying ways to eliminate the filing of paper export declarations and replace it with automated filings.

   The move to electronic export data is part of the agency’s five-year automation “Blueprint.” There are some exporters already using Canada Customs’ Internet-based system to file Canadian Automated Export Declarations (CAEDs). However, many exporters continue to file paper export declarations (B13A forms) to Customs.

   While export declarations aren’t required for shipments to the United States, Canada Customs does require them for exports destined to other countries and those that transit through U.S. ports to Mexico and other countries.

   “We want to work with an export reporting system that will cover all aspects of export transactions, such as in-bonds, in-transits and CAEDs,” said George McBurney, manager of customs for Canadian Pacific Railway and chairman of the Railway Association of Canada’s Customs Committee.

   Meetings are planned to discuss the proposed automated export reporting system. The rail carriers are also considering assessing a handling fee on exporters who file paper export declarations.

   A similar effort is already underway by the U.S. Census Bureau and ocean carriers to eliminate the filing of paper shipper’s export declaration by exporters and freight forwarders.