CARM: What all importers need to know about CARM

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Higher U.S. Customs User Fees effective October 1, 2021

Effective October 1, 2021, there will be new minimums and maximums for U.S. Customs’ Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF). The minimum will be $27.75 per transaction (previously $26.79) and the maximum will be $538.40 (previously $519.76). The Informal MPF (applies to shipments valued under $2,500 USD) will change from a flat rate of $2.14 to $2.22. The MPF rate of 0.3464% will not change. Goods of USMCA/CUSMA Preferential Origin are exempt from MPF. In addition to the MPF, various other U.S. Customs User Fees are also increasing – please see

full list here.

The Merchandise Processing Fee is a fee imposed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to offset the cost of salaries and other expenses incurred in the processing of imports and release of merchandise into the United States.

For more information, please call Brian Rowe, Director – Customs Compliance & Regulatory Affairs at (905) 882-4880, ext. 1213.

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