ACROSS - Accelerated Commercial Release Operations Support System
A Canada Customs system to speed the release of shipments by allowing electronic transmission of data to and from Canada Customs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Ad Valorem Duty
A duty calculated as a percentage of the shipment value.

AMPS - Administrative Monetary Penalty System
A Canada Customs system of monetary penalties that will be imposed against violations of Canada Customs regulations.

Anti-Dumping Duty
An additional import duty imposed in instances where imported goods are priced at less than the “normal” price charged in the exporter’s domestic market and cause material injury to domestic industry in the importing country.

B/L – Bill of Lading
A written document issued by a common carrier, acknowledging the receipt of the goods named and setting forth the terms of the contract of carriage. When in original form, it is negotiable.

Bonded Warehouse
A warehouse authorized by Customs authorities for storage of goods on which payment of duties is deferred until the goods are removed.

CADEX - Customs Automated Data Exchange System
A Canada Customs system that allows for the electronic transmission of import data for goods that have already been released. Additional information such as accounting data and release notifications are also accessible.

Carnet
A Canada Customs document permitting the holder to carry or send merchandise temporarily into certain foreign countries without paying duties or posting bonds.

Certificate of Origin
A certified document as to the origin of the goods, used in foreign commerce.

Consignee
The individual or company to whom a seller or shipper sends merchandise.

Consumption Entry
An official Canada Customs form used for declaration of reported goods, also showing the total duty due on such transaction.

Countervailing Duties
An additional import duty imposed to offset Government subsidies in the exporting country, when the subsidized imports cause material injury to domestic industry in the importing country.

Drawback
A refund of duties paid on importation of goods which are further processed and then re-exported.

F.C.L. - Full Container Load, Full Car load

FIRST- Frequent Importer Release System
A Canada Customs pre-authorized system that allows for the quick release of repetitive low-risk shipments for frequent importers.

GATT – General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
A multilateral treaty intended to help reduce trade barriers and promote tariff concessions.

GST - Goods and Services Tax
A Canadian tax that is payable on most goods and services (imported and domestic) payable at a rate of 7.0%.

Harmonized Code
An internationally accepted and uniform description system for classifying goods for Customs, statistical and other purposes.

In-Bond
A Customs program for inland ports that provides for cargo arriving at a seaport to be shipped under a Customs bond to a more conveniently located inland port where the entry documents have been filed. Customs clears the shipment there, which normally is close to the inland port.

L.C.L. – Less than Container Load; Less than Car Load

L/C – Letter of Credit
A method of payment for goods in which the buyer establishes his credit with a local bank, clearly describing the goods to be purchased, the price, the documentation required, and a time limit for completion of the transaction. Upon receipt of documentation, the bank is either paid by the buyer or takes title to the goods themselves and proceeds to transfer funds to the seller.

LVS- Low-Value Shipment Program
A Canada Customs program to speed up the release process for commercial imports by approved carriers valued at less than $1600CAN.

Manifest
A list of the goods being transported by a carrier.

NAFTA - North American Free Trade Agreement
A free trade agreement, implemented January 1, 1994, between Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Open Policy
A cargo insurance policy that is an open contract; i.e. it provides protection for all of an exporter’s shipments afloat or in transit within a specified geographical trade area for an unlimited period of time, until the policy is cancelled by the insured or by the insurance company. It is “open” because the goods that are shipped are also detailed at that time. This is usually shown in a document called a marine insurance certificate.

PARS - Pre-Arrival Review System
A Canada Customs system that allows shipment release information to be transmitted and processed by Canada Customs before the goods arrive in Canada. Information can be transmitted to Canada Customs up to 10 days prior to shipment arrival.

Phytosanitary Inspection Certificate
A certificate issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicating that a shipment has been inspected and is free of harmful pests and plant diseases.

Port of Discharge
Port where vessel is off loaded.

Port of Entry
A port at which foreign goods are admitted into the receiving country.

Port of Loading
Port where cargo is loaded aboard the vessel.

RNS - Release Notification System
A Canada Customs electronic system which notifies importers, brokers, warehouse operators, and carriers of customs releases.

Shipper’s Load, Stowe & Count
A clause inserted on an ocean bill of lading by the steamship line when a container is positioned at the shipper’s premises for loading. This simply means the Steamship Line did not load the container, therefore, they cannot be held accountable for the contents.

SIMA - Special Import Measures Act
An act to protect Canadian producers and manufacturers against unfair competition from imports of low-priced dumped or subsidized goods.

Specific Duty
A duty calculated as a rate per unit of measure (e.g. number, volume, weight, etc.).

Tare Weight
The weight of packing and containers without the goods to be shipped.

Tariff
A customs duty that is payable on imported merchandise.

Tariff Rate Quota
A two-stage tariff, which imposes a lower rate of duty on imports up to the quota level and a higher rate of duty on imports over-quota.

TEU – Twenty foot equivalent unit

WTO- World Trade Organization
An organization established on January 1, 1995 replacing the previous General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade GATT that forms the cornerstone of the world trading system.

Wharfage
A charge assessed by a pier or dock owner against the cargo or a steamship company for use of the pier or dock.