CCOFTA Rules of Origin Updated

Summary#

These are final regulations that change the Regulations Amending the CCOFTA Rules of Origin Regulations to reflect updates agreed with Colombia to the way goods are classified for trade. The changes make Canada’s domestic rules match newer international product codes and took effect when the regulations were registered on March 9, 2023.

What it does#

• Updates the rules of origin in the CCOFTA Rules of Origin Regulations so they match the newer versions of the Harmonized System (HS) used to classify goods — reflecting the 2012 and 2017 HS updates (the CCOFTA had been using the 2007 version).
• Adds language that lets future technical updates to those rules (the kind that follow HS changes) be implemented automatically in Canada when Canada and Colombia agree to them. This avoids having to run a separate domestic regulatory process each time those technical updates are made.

Who's affected#

• Importers and exporters who trade goods between Canada and Colombia, and their customs brokers or freight handlers.
• The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), which will continue to check and apply the rules at the border and will notify traders of any operational details.
• Small businesses that use CCOFTA tariff preferences — the government says these changes do not add cost or paperwork.

Why it matters#

• It keeps Canadian customs rules aligned with international product codes so traders can keep claiming CCOFTA tariff preferences without interruption.
• By allowing future technical updates to be applied automatically, it speeds up implementation and reduces repeated administrative steps for the government and businesses.
• The government says the changes are technical and revenue neutral, so they are not expected to change trade volumes or costs for traders.