Canadian Sellers mailing from the U.S.

ruthsdevildog
Community Member
I am fortunate to live close to the U.S. border and mail my International & U.S. sales items from the U.S. but there maybe a recent Customs and Border Security change that could STOP this. It is called the Ace E-Manifest system that would require you to use a Customs Broker and an electronic manifest that would have to be completed before your arrival to the border.

I have questioned my broker that I use for the company I work for and will post the responce when I receive it.
Thanks,
Paul

P.S. If anyone knows the answer to this or has any input please feel free to respond.
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Canadian Sellers mailing from the U.S.

dreamcoll
Community Member
I also mail from the states. I understand that the E-Manifest will only apply to items valued at $2000.00 or more.
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Canadian Sellers mailing from the U.S.

Yup - I called Canada Border Services and the E-Manifest will only apply to items valued at over $2000.00.

Therefore, so long as the total value of your items that you are carrying over that day does not exceed $2000.00 then you are OK.

Cheers,

FTL
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Canadian Sellers mailing from the U.S.

ruthsdevildog
Community Member
I talked with my broker that I use for my company business (not e-bay) and you are correct as long as the value does not exceed $2,000.00 and all the items are duty free then there shouldn't be a problem. Although I do find that trying to find all the proper tariff codes for items can be a real pain in the butt. They are getting very sticky. I took one package over the border last week valued at $9.99 and I didn't have the tariff code on the manifest. Had to go into the Customs warehouse and have them apply a tariff code. I guess I've been lucky so far because I've crossed at least 30+ times without having any tariff codes on the manifest. It was bound to catch up with me at some point.
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Canadian Sellers mailing from the U.S.

3jcc14
Community Member
I guess I've been lucky. I do my own paperwork and all items that I sell are NAFTA eligible. I cross at a rather quiet border and the US Customs and Border Protection Agent actually looked up the Tarriff Codes for me! I do strongly suggest getting an E15 - Proof of Export on the Canadian Side Stamped so that if any of your items wind up coming back to you - you'll have proof that the items were yours and won't have to pay duties/taxes to bring them back into Canada.
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Canadian Sellers mailing from the U.S.

ruthsdevildog
Community Member
Hi 3jcc14:
You mentioned you sell NAFTA eligible items. I'll have to do some checking on that. Can you direct me to the site for this. Also the E15 Proof of Export sounds like a good idea.
Thanks,
Paul
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Canadian Sellers mailing from the U.S.

jakeeangel
Community Member
Hiya,

Some of you have your info wrong. Dead wrong. Maybe it depends on the border you cross I don't know. But I do know you do NOT call Canada customs for regulations regarding US Customs. I also know that the border crossings in southern Ontario, Lewiston/Queenston and Fort Erie REQUIRE the tariff codes. You don't have them, you go back home. No crossing for you.

They also do NOT let you go anywhere to get those codes and there's not a chance in heck they're going to look up the code for you. They turn you around and you go home. This is my personal experience. I've been crossing for almost 3 years now I believe. I don't mean to come across as a know it all, because I don't know everything but I can share with you my experiences as truthfully as I can.

We crossed for the longest time without the paperwork, the 7523. Then they said no paper, no entry. Then we crossed with the papers but no tariff codes. One day earlier this year they said no tariff codes, no entry. So now each and every single item has a tariff code. This is crossing in the commercial lanes. You can't take commercial goods through the personal entry lanes.

I don't know where you guys are in Canada but it seems that some crossings implement things at different times and in different ways. I can only speak for what I've personally encountered at Lewiston and Fort Erie. Fort Erie is less strict than Lewiston but they have the same mandate. I'm not giving you second have information. This is what I've personally encountered when crossing.

Yesterday I asked about the ACE system at Lewiston. Sorry but the above info about $2000 is not correct. ALL commercial entries must have the manifest. I have a paper that the guy gave me and I can scan it and post for you to see but it says the following in Red with a big red stop sign symbol with a hand on it:

ELECTRONIC MANIFESTS ARE MANDATORY!

A Federal Register Notice was recently published requiring all trucks crossing this land border to submit an electronic manifest beginning on:

MAY 24, 2007

You may be subject to a $5000 penalty and/or may not be allowed to cross this border without first submitting an electronic manifest!

To learn how to comply, visit http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/about/modernization/



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Message 7 of 18
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Canadian Sellers mailing from the U.S.

jakeeangel
Community Member
Typo sorry....it should read I'm not giving you second HAND information.

I know I can be a bit blunt and some people don't like or understand it. I'm not being mean. I'm not a mean person. I'm just telling you things as I see them. The above is my personal experience when crossing with commercial goods.

If you have any questions please ask and if I can help I'll happily do so. 🙂

If you've not experienced the above, manifests, tariff codes and now the emanifests, it's coming. They're working their way through to all of them and you will eventually have to have the tariff codes for everything. I've only just begun to read up about the ACE system but my understanding is the code is a requirement somewhere on the emanifest system.

Next time you cross, ask a US CBP agent about ACE and they should help you out with any info on it. You'll need to know implementation dates and such. I had no idea that my ports were going live as soon as they are. I'm glad I asked yesterday. I'd hate to be surprised with it and have to turn around. That'd suck. :(



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Canadian Sellers mailing from the U.S.

ruthsdevildog
Community Member
It sounds like were getting conflicting information from U.S. Customs. I called U.S. customs yesterday in Buffalo, Ny. and when I called I talked to a Customs Specialist. He instructed me that as long as the total value you are crossing with does not exceed $2,000.00 you do NOT need to use Ace E-Manifest BUT that it is possible this could change in the future. I explained to him my reason for asking and he was very helpful. As far as the tariff codes I do agree with you jakeeangel. I have just been very lucky up to now that they didn't turn me around but tariff codes are going on now. I'm not taking any chances. Also if you cross with parcels that you have sold DO NOT go through the regular traffic lines. You must go through the truck line in Fort Erie.
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Canadian Sellers mailing from the U.S.

3jcc14
Community Member
Hi, I cross at Fort Frances (ON)/International Falls (MN)...we're talking the quiet end of Ontario Highway 11 (or Yonge Street). We are talking a border with two traffic lanes and a truck lane - when I say truck lane, the driver enters the lane, shuts off the truck and comes inside for the Primary or Initial questions that you normally have done in the lanes - there's normally no officer in that booth but it keeps the semi trucks out of the car lanes. Lets just say in the winter season, they see 40-50 cars and 10 trucks on average an hour (different story in the summer - where all you see a stream of fishermen and hunters going north and south).

That crossing is not fully "online" yet - I bought a transponder but they are not yet set up so I show my transponder purchase receipt each time I cross.

Ruthsdevildog - For the NAFTA items, all items that I sell are either made in Canada or the USA or a combination of both (Canadian made hockey cards graded in the USA).

Jackangel - you're right, calling CBSA (Canada Customs) for US CBP info is a no-no. I would politely refer callers to the US (and provide the US numbers) when I used to work at the Border. Some people understand which side is which but some others needed more explaination as to why I could not explain US rules.
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Canadian Sellers mailing from the U.S.

ruthsdevildog
Community Member
Hi 3jcc14.
Question for you regarding the NAFTA items (made in Canada or U.S.A.) How do you identify them on the manifest? Is there a special tariff number you use or do you just show the word NAFTA?

Regarding the Ace E-Manifest I have always talked to U.S. Customs on this. Like I said earlier there seems to be some conflicting information. I am going to call U.S. Customs in Washington, DC. to day and see if I can get a clear ruling on this. I'll post my response when I get it.

Thanks,
ruthsdevildog
Message 11 of 18
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Canadian Sellers mailing from the U.S.

jakeeangel
Community Member
You still have to put the tariff code down and the two letter country of manufacture of the item next to the tariff number on the 7523. Along with that you would have to include a copy of the NAFTA COO certificate of origin for the item in question and hand it to the agent with your 7523 and invoices or invoice manifest for what you're bringing over.

I find them weird when it comes to the invoices. I don't *yet* give them copies of each individual invoice but I do make an excel spreadsheet with the name, address, item description ie parrot book, computer game, whatever and the amount they paid before shipping. It lets them know precisely what I'm bringing in, who bought it and how much. It's not an official form, it's just my own thing. Some don't want it, some demand it and others ask what the heck it is and what they're supposed to do with it. Clearly not everyone has the same procedural training.

I made it for every trip from the beginning so when they asked what I was bringing and how much I could read off the list. I would show them and ask if they needed/wanted it and they said no. Someone started lecturing me once that the 7523 wasn't enough because it didn't say where each piece was going, what was in each individual shipment, I'd need invoices bla bla bla and I handed him that. Oh! great! *shrugs* I don't know. Some CBP agents keep the excel sheet, most actually, and a few hand them back.

I don't think it matters where you cross from but rather what state you cross into. Reading the info on the website I gave New York is one of the next ones to go live with the program. I don't know where MN fits in. Each state is getting into the program at different points.

I did read that for those entering with the 7523 and under $2000 there is a temporary exemption from the ACE emanifest but it didn't give details or I didn't get to the part yet, of what to do or how long the exemption was and under what specific circumstances.

There is going to be a seminar on ACE on June 4 - 6 in Buffalo. It's free to register and may be worthwhile. You can set up personal appointments where they can help you with your specific business. I also found a help number for ACE. You can even do some web based training for the emanifests. I haven't done that yet. It looks like you have to set up an ACE account to do the manifests or buy special software for an EDI.

ACE Portal support number

For questions on the application, please call the ACE Portal Support Center at 1-800-927-8729.

I don't know if that number is general info or only for help using the ACE portal to submit a manifest or only for the application to get an ACE account. I haven't called yet but it's worth a shot. If they can't help I'm sure they can direct you to a number who can.

Anyone going to head to Buffalo for the Seminar? Appointments are booking up. I got one. The other seminar location is Texas if I remember correctly.

Good luck - lots to read that's for sure,
Debbi



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Message 12 of 18
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Canadian Sellers mailing from the U.S.

3jcc14
Community Member
Hi, I've never had to produce a NAFTA Cerficate of Origin and all I use is the CBP 7523 form. Again, I deal only with Hockey Cards and Canadian Coins. I think it goes with some local discretion amongst the officers. Minnesota is a hockey mad US State and half of the CBP agents ask me if I have any Gretzky rookies for sale! I think if I entered from the south into Arizona or something, I may need more documentation. The odd time I may have something else that is not US or Canadian Made and I don't put it on the CBP 7523 but instead verbally tell them what it is, where it is from and the cost I sold it for. I'll ask them about this ACE Manifest stuff next time I cross (this Friday).
Message 13 of 18
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Canadian Sellers mailing from the U.S.

ruthsdevildog
Community Member
I'll be crossing this Saturday. I'll also ask about the ACE program and report the response.
Message 14 of 18
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Canadian Sellers mailing from the U.S.

ACE system will be fully implemented in all Northern border crossings by the end of 2007. They seem to be going West to East.

Somewhere on the CBP website there is a schedule giving the border points and dates ACE starts.
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
- answering Trolls is voluntary, my policy is not to participate.


"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
- answering Trolls is voluntary, my policy is not to participate.
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Canadian Sellers mailing from the U.S.

3jcc14
Community Member
Hi, I just got back from my monthly shipping in the USA. I stopped and spoke with one of the CBP Inspectors and asked specifically about ACE. He told me that at their location (International Falls, Minnesota) they will be going live in May or June of this year but the Inspectors have not all been trained. When I asked if it will impact me and my eBay shipping, he and one of his colleagues indicated that ACE is only for commercial shipments $2000.00 USD or greater. Anyhow, that's the information I got. Hope this helps contribute to the discussion.
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Canadian Sellers mailing from the U.S.

I think you'll find the following info to be useful:

ACE e-Manifest/Trade Act Enforcement Plan - Cluster 3 (Michigan and New York Ports)

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/about/modernization/carrier_info/e-manifests_info/trade_act_enfor...
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Canadian Sellers mailing from the U.S.

jakeeangel
Community Member
Thanks for that link! I'm glad it's on the site. When I crossed this week I got someone else that said those using the 7523 for goods under $2000 don't have to apply for ACE or use the emanifest. YAY!!

Here's hoping they're all aware of it because the last guy I talked to wasn't. He told me I had to have the emanifest, no exceptions. No emanifest, no crossing which is why I said what I said earlier. Boy am I glad that was wrong! :^O But the guy this week said that's just for now that we don't need to use ACE, it may change in the future but he doesn't have a clue if or when that would happen.



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