Customs Notice 24-41

Please be advised of the following regarding Canada’s unilateral tariff preference programs for imports from developing countries.  

1. On January 1st, 2025, Canada will introduce a number of updates to its unilateral preferential tariff programs to make them easier to use and access for Canadian importers and developing country partners. 

1. These updates affect the General Preferential Tariff (GPT), the Least Developed Country Tariff (LDCT), the Commonwealth Caribbean Countries Tariff (CCCT) and result in the creation of the new General Preferential Tariff Plus (GPTP). 

1. Effective January 1st, 2025, the following countries will graduate from and be ineligible for preferential tariffs under the GPT program: Armenia, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Fiji, Georgia, Guatemala, Guyana, Iraq, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Nauru, Paraguay, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Vietnam. Goods in transit to Canada before January 1st, 2025, will continue to be eligible for the GPT. Conversely, the countries of Lebanon and Tunisia will be re-instated to and eligible for the GPT program. 

1. Effective January 1st, 2025, Cape Verde, Samoa, Tuvalu and Vanuatu will graduate from and be ineligible for preferential tariffs under the LDCT program. Goods in transit to Canada before January 1st, 2025, will continue to be eligible for the LDCT. 

1. Effective January 1st, 2025, duty-free treatment under the CCCT program will be expanded to cover all textiles, apparel and made-up textile articles in Chapters 50-63 of the Harmonized System. 

1. When it comes into effect, at a later date, the incoming GPTP is intended to be a program that provides expanded tariff preferences, going beyond GPT benefits, to those GPT beneficiaries that abide by certain international standards and work to improve conditions relating to human rights, labour rights and sustainable development, including environmental protection. 

Read the full CBSA notice here. 

Delmar Services & Support  

Our Canadian Customs Advisory team is available to assist importers with related questions.  

Delmar will continue to provide pertinent updates as they become available.  

 

For additional information and assistance, please contact your local Delmar Representative.