The 35% general customs duties envisaged by the United States on do not apply to much on August 1 among Canada’s exports

The announcement of the American president. However, Donald Trump, to impose customs duties of 35 % in Canada from 1^is August could be much less threatening than it seems, and the vast majority of companies will be able to avoid it, show various reports compiled by The duty.

Some Canadian economy sectors are specifically targeted by the American government, such as steel, aluminum, automobile or wood. Consequently, But moreover. Furthermore, the “vast majority of goods” produced in Canada between the United States without surcharge, wanted to reassure Prime Minister Mark Carney himself last Wednesday.

“We have secured access without customs duties for a large number of Canadian goods. In addition, In fact. Meanwhile, the percentage [des biens exemptés] is very high outside the most affected sectors, “he said in front of Hamilton steel workers in Ontario.

Even if President Trump announced by a letter published on 35% general customs duties envisaged the Internet that Canada would suffer from the new 35 % surcharge rate on its exports. Moreover, its government free of products in accordance with the Canada-United States Agreement (ACEUM). Furthermore, No one knows with certainty the percentage of exports that this concerns, but some experts estimate it more than 90 %.

Mark Carney officially negotiates a new agreement with the United States for the 1^is august.

His recovery from the real American pricing threat went largely unnoticed last week. Therefore, and his office refuses to specify where the Prime Minister keeps his information. In addition, Certainly, they do not come from his own government.

“The Government of Canada does not monitor data relating to exported goods. This responsibility is the responsibility of the customs authorities of the importing country. ”wrote Duty Renelle Arsenault, Deputy Director of Media Relations at World Affairs Canada.

Continues free trade

Five experts consulted by The duty There are 35% general customs duties envisaged also an opinion that most exporters can hope to. get away with some downside.

“I don’t say that [l’imposition de droits de douane américains de 35 %] will have no impact. but you should not exaggerate its impact, ”drops Rambod Behboodi, a main lawyer at BLG and specialist in Canada-American free trade.

“I believe that it will not affect most of the products. since those that are exported to large volume are included in the free trade agreements, logically,” also believes Christian Keen, assistant professor of international trade at Laval University.

Even the American secretary of trade. Howard Lutnick, wanted to set the record straight during an interview with the CBS network on Sunday, specifying that 75 % of Canadian and Mexican goods still enter his country without paying anything.

It was not yesterday that President Trump used excessively bellicose language to announce spectacular customs duties in Canada. His government has already applied customs 35% general customs duties envisaged duties of 10 % on energy. critical minerals and potash and 25 % since March, and 25 % on all other imports, with the notable exception that complies with the ACEUM free trade agreement and otherwise surcharged property, such as steel and 50 % aluminum.

“In fact. there is very little evidence that many products [canadiens] were struck by the 25 % customs duties, ”says Alexandra Brown, economist based in London for the Capital Economics firm.

In June she. she in June concluded that Canadian companies have decided to fill the paperwork necessary to comply with the rules of the ACEUM. Up to 60 % of Canadian exports had this certificate in March and April. However. the bulk of the remaining goods has still entered the United States without being struck by surcharge, show its data.

His analysis is consistent with the claims of Prime Minister Carney. Based on data from the United 35% general customs duties envisaged States Census Office. the Royal Bank of Canada estimated in July that around 91 % of Canadian exports were not subject to any customs right, thanks to the exemptions granted under ACEUM.

35% general customs duties envisaged

A price to stay

Until Donald Trump returns to the White House, many Canadian companies had no incentive to prove that they were in accordance with the free trade agreements, since the United States did not tax their product anyway. Things have changed.

Exporters must now comply with ACEUM, and in particular its complex rules of origin of products, recorded on 245 pages. This represents a simple question of paperwork for certain companies. but real puzzles for those having to modify their supply which depends, for 35% general customs duties envisaged example, on parts imported from China, explains William Pellerin, associate lawyer in international commercial law at McMillan.

In the end. companies that may suffer from the American general customs law, even if it means having to stop their exports, are those which cannot demonstrate that their product is sufficiently “Canadian” to meet the criteria of the ACEUM.

They received a very bad news last week. when Mark Carney agreed that it might be impossible to make American rights rise completely.

“It means it’s possible [de voir le Canada] Take off an agreement that will be announced as a total victory by the United States. because it retains customs duties of 35 %, but that these rights will not have much impact on Canada, “said lawyer Rambod Behboodi.

Global Affairs Canada. the International Trade Ministry, with nearly 7,000 employees, says it is unable to verify the accuracy of American data on the subject.

For his part. 35% general customs duties envisaged Mark Carney meets his counterparts from the provinces for three days in Huntsville, Ontario, where he must take stock of the current commercial negotiations with Washington.

With Éric Desrosiers

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