United Kingdom removed from CETA list

Summary#

These final regulations (SOR/2020-287) change the official list of places that count as an "EU country or other CETA beneficiary" for Canadian customs purposes. They remove the detailed listing for the United Kingdom and expressly say that Cyprus includes the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The changes took effect on January 1, 2021.

What it does#

• Amends the schedule to the Regulations Defining “EU country or other CETA beneficiary” by deleting the existing entry that named the United Kingdom (the deleted text named the Channel Islands, Gibraltar, Isle of Man and the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, and listed a number of British territories that were excluded).
• Replaces the word “Cyprus” in the schedule with “Cyprus, including the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia.”
• Sets the coming-into-force date as January 1, 2021.

Who's affected#

• Businesses that import or export goods and that rely on the definition of “EU country or other CETA beneficiary” to claim tariff preferences under CETA.
• Customs brokers, freight forwarders and others who prepare customs paperwork.
• Government officials and agencies who apply customs and tariff rules.
• If it is unclear who else might be affected beyond these groups, the regulation text itself does not say; related measures (for example, other orders about the United Kingdom) are referenced separately.

Why it matters#

• The list in these regulations helps decide whether goods can get CETA-style tariff treatment. Removing the United Kingdom from the list means it is no longer named in this regulation as an “EU country or other CETA beneficiary.” That can change which duties apply and what paperwork is needed for goods from the UK.
• Explicitly including the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia with Cyprus makes it clear that goods originating there are treated the same as goods from Cyprus for the purposes of this regulation.
• The changes were in force on January 1, 2021, so traders and customs professionals need to use the updated list from that date.