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Defence Supplies And Defence Production And Development Sharing Arrangements Between Canada And The United States
Memorandum D8-9-3

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Last modified: 2001-05-10

In Brief

This memorandum outlines the conditions under which goods may qualify for duty-free entry under tariff item 9982.00.00.

Table of Contents

Guidelines and General Information

1. Effective January 1, 1998, the Remission Order Respecting the Remission of Customs Duties on Defence Supplies has been revoked. The Remission Order Respecting the Remission and Refund of Customs Duties and Excise Taxes in Respect of the Canada-United States Defence Production and Development Sharing Program has been revoked for the customs duty but has been maintained for the relief of excise taxes, other than the goods and services tax (GST), that would otherwise have been payable under this order. The relief of customs duty offered by these remission orders has been combined into tariff item 9982.00.00.

2. For additional information, consult Memorandum D11-8-5, End-Use Program, which outlines the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency's (CCRA) general administrative policy concerning the importation of goods under end-use tariff items in Chapter 99 and other chapters of the Customs Tariff, effective January 1, 1998.

Goods and Services Tax (GST)

3. Relief of the GST is not provided for under tariff item 9982.00.00. Any reference to duties in the following guidelines should read to exclude relief from the payment of the GST.

What Qualifies?

4. It should be noted that tariff item 9982.00.00 contains two distinct and separate provisions:

Who Qualifies?

5. A prime contractor qualifies if he has a contract through Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) to provide defence supplies in Canada. A subcontractor is any person who can satisfy the CCRA that the imported goods are to be sold to a prime contractor. Both prime contractors and subcontractors must have certification. This means PWGSC certifies that the items purchased under a contract number are defence supplies as defined in the Defence Production Act.

6. Will qualify any person carrying on business in Canada who has been awarded contracts by the CCC, an agency of the United States Government, or a prime contractor or subcontractor producing or developing defence supplies or defense equipment in connection with those contracts awarded under defence production and development sharing arrangements between Canada and the United States.

Conditions

7. A prime contractor claiming duty-free entry of defence supplies under tariff item 9982.00.00 must have a copy of the contract certified by the Minister of Public Works and Government Services that the goods on the contract are defence supplies.

8. The defence supplies, as defined in the Defence Production Act, are covered by a contract, the total value of which is $250,000 or more certified by the Minister of Public Works and Government Services. The value may include customs duties and GST even though the goods are imported duty free under tariff item 9982.00.00.

9. Persons can claim duty-free entry of articles and materials that have been or are to be used solely and exclusively in the development and production of goods incorporated into goods that have been or are to be delivered to an agency of the United States Government in connection with a defence production and development sharing contract. Authority to import under tariff item 9982.00.00 may be obtained by applying directly to the CCC or through an officer of the Field Contract Administration Division of PWGSC.

Documentation

10. Generally, importers meeting the conditions of tariff item 9982.00.00 may claim duty-free entry of the goods at the time of import by placing the correct tariff classification number of the goods within Chapters 1 to 97 of the Customs Tariff in the classification field and by placing 9982 in the tariff code field of the import accounting document (i.e., Form B3, Canada Customs Coding Form).

11. A prime contractor must be able to provide a copy of the contract from PWGSC with certification that the goods on the contract are defence supplies.

12. A subcontractor must provide an end-use certificate or letter of commitment from the prime contractor listing the contract number with PWGSC and granting the CCRA access to its records. Additionally, the subcontractor must satisfy the CCRA that the goods supplied to the prime contractor are for a contract which meets all the conditions of the tariff item 9982.00.00. A letter of commitment or end-use certificate (contained in Appendix C) will be required for each intermediate party not designated in the contract.

13. A contractor or subcontractor must be able to provide a copy of the contract from the CCC authorizing that the goods are to be used solely and exclusively in the development and production of goods or incorporated into goods that have been or are to be delivered to an agency of the Government of the United States with a defence production development sharing contract. Documentation must include a certificate (contained in Appendix D) signed by an authorized official of the importing firm.

14. It is the responsibility of the importer or owner of the goods to satisfy customs that the conditions and requirements set forth in the tariff item have been met, and that its record keeping is sufficient to establish compliance.

15. Additional information can be found in sections 40, 41, 42, and 42.01 of the Customs Act and in Memorandum D17-1-21, Maintenance of Records and Books in Canada by Importers.

Corrections to Declarations

16. Diversions are transactions which occur after imported goods have been accounted for in the prescribed manner (i.e., section 32 of the Customs Act on Form B3), and involve the sale, lease, or disposition in any manner of all or part of the goods (including scrap) to a use or user not specified in tariff item 9982.00.00.

17. Importers, contractors, and subcontractors should also establish a record keeping system to account for imported goods not used in compliance with tariff item 9982.00.00.

18. Subsections 32.2(2) and 32.2(6) of the Customs Act place an obligation on the importer of record, owner, or "other prescribed person" of the imported goods, to report and correct declarations of tariff classification and pay any duties owing, if applicable, within 90 days of the date there is reason to believe the goods fail to comply with a condition imposed under a tariff item, in this case, 9982.00.00.

19. The date of diversion is considered to be the date of the sales invoice, lease agreement, contract, work order, or other document that covers the removal of the goods to a non-qualifying use or user. If records do not establish the date of diversion, the diversion is considered to have taken place at the time of importation of the goods.

20. Additional information can be found in Memorandum D11-6-6, Self-Adjustments to Declarations of Origin, Tariff Classification, Value for Duty, and Diversion of Goods.

Refunds

21. If duties have been previously paid and an importer meets the conditions of tariff item 9982.00.00, a refund may be claimed. All claims for refund (section 74 of the Customs Act) must be filed within four years of the date of release of the imported goods. All claims must be accompanied by documentation demonstrating that the conditions of the tariff item have been met. The Defence Production and Development Sharing Remission Order, P.C. 1970-1913, dated November 3, 1970, as amended, may be used for qualified claims, for refund of excise taxes other than GST. Claims may be filed on Form K32, Drawback Claim.

22. The supplier is not entitled to claim a refund under tariff item 9982.00.00 if the contract already includes duty-paid provisions (the Department of National Defence pays the duty as per the contract and is entitled to the refund). In this case, a waiver is required from all other eligible claimants waiving their rights to the refund. The remission of customs duty for defence supplies is designed under a zero-sum application and is not meant to result in a windfall profit for the contractor.

Audits and Verifications

23. CCRA officers may exercise the powers granted to them under sections 42 and 42.01 of the Customs Act and perform compliance verification audits or reviews on goods imported under end-use tariff items such as 9982.00.00. This includes goods covered by stocking authorizations, percentage arrangements, and National Customs Rulings.

24. As a result of an audit or other verification exercise, goods found to have been declared under an incorrect tariff item will be subject to a re-determination or further re-determination of the tariff under paragraph 59(1)(a) or (b) of the Customs Act.

Interest and Penalties

25. Interest at the specified rate will be charged on the 91st day after the date of diversion on any unpaid duties.

26. In addition to the regular amount of duties payable to the CCRA, every person who fails to correct a declaration of tariff classification in accordance with subsection 32.2(6) of the Customs Act shall be liable for the payment of a penalty according to the scale prescribed in section 109.11 of the Act.

Additional Information

27. Any company wishing to use tariff item 9982.00.00 or in need of further information should contact their local CCRA customs office for assistance. A list of regional customs offices can be found in Appendix E.

28. For more information on customs measures, visit our Web site at www.ccra.gc.ca.

29. For more information on the Defence Production and Development Sharing Program, contact the Canadian Commercial Corporation at the following address:

Manager
U.S. Operations
Canadian Commercial Corporation
Room 1100, 50 O'Connor Street
Ottawa ON K1A 0S6

30. For more information on contracts to provide defence supplies in Canada, visit the PWGSC Web site at www.pwgsc.gc.ca.

Appendix A

Tariff Item 9982.00.00

Defence supplies, as defined in the Defence Production Act, covered by a contract, the total value of which is $250,000 or more, certified by the Minister of Public Works and Government Services that the goods supplied under the contract are defence supplies; Articles and materials, imported by persons carrying on business in Canada whom the Canadian Commercial Corporation verifies as having been awarded contracts or sub-contracts under defence production and development sharing arrangements between the Governments of Canada and the United States, for use in the development or production of goods, or for incorporation into goods, all for agencies of the Government of the United States in connection with such contracts or sub-contracts.

Note: Goods must be classified in Chapters 1 to 97 according to the Harmonized System of tariff classification contained in the Customs Tariff, placing the correct tariff classification number in the classification field and 9982 in the tariff code field of the import accounting documentation (i.e., Form B3, Canada Customs Coding Form).

Appendix B

Remission Order

Order Respecting The Remission And Refund Of Taxes Imposed Under The Excise Tax Act, Other Than The Tax Under Part IX, In Respect Of The Canada-united States Defence Production And Development Sharing Program

Short Title

1. This order may be cited as the Defence Production and Development Sharing Remission Order.

Remission

2. Subject to sections 3 and 4, remission is hereby granted of the taxes paid or payable under the Excise Tax Act, other than the tax under Part IX, on articles and materials that

(a) are imported into or purchased in Canada by persons carrying on business in Canada who have been awarded contracts under defence production and development sharing arrangements between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States; and

(b) have been or are to be used solely and exclusively in the development and production of goods or incorporated into goods that have been or are to be delivered to an agency of the Government of the United States in connection with a defence production and development sharing contract.

3. A person claiming a remission under this Order shall produce, together with the customs accounting document or refund claim for the articles or materials referred to in section 2,

(a) verification by the Canadian Commercial Corporation that he has been awarded a contract referred to in paragraph 2(a); and

(b) a certificate by the importer of the articles and materials, in such form as the Commissioner of Customs and Revenue may prescribe, certifying that the articles and materials have been or are to be used for the purposes described in paragraph 2(b).

4. The Minister of National Revenue may give such instructions and directions as he deems necessary for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the Order.

Appendix C

Exemption Certificate

I hereby certify that the articles and materials described on the accounting document, refund claim, or accompanying documents have been or are to be used solely and exclusively in the development and production of goods or incorporated into goods that are to be delivered to an agency of the Government of the United States of America under a contract awarded in accordance with the Canada-United States Defence Production and Development Sharing Program.

United States Government Contract No.

Name of Firm

CCC or Sub-Contract No. and Name of Prime Contractor, if Applicable

Authorized Signature

Date

Appendix D

Certificate For Defence Supplies

I certify that the items purchased under contract number __________________ are "defence supplies" as defined in the Defence Production Act, pursuant to tariff item 9982.00.00.

Approved by Authorized Officer

Signature Date

Title

Appendix E

List Of Regional Customs Offices

Atlantic Region
5th floor, CIBC Building
1809 Barrington Street
Halifax NS B3J 3K8

Telephone: (902) 426-2914
Fax:(902) 426-5042

Quebec Region
8th floor, 400 Place d'Youville
Montréal QC H2Y 2C2

Telephone: 1-800-461-9999

Northern Ontario Region
3rd floor, 2265 St. Laurent Boulevard
Ottawa ON K1G 4K3

Telephone: 1-800-461-9999

Southern Ontario Region
Peace Bridge Plaza
60 Walnut Street
Fort Erie ON L2A 5N7

Telephone: (905) 994-6330
Fax:(905) 994-6339

Greater Toronto Area
303-6725 Airport Road
Mississauga ON L4V 1V2

Telephone: (905) 612-6184
Fax:(905) 676-3574

Windsor/St. Clair
P.O. Box 1655
Windsor ON N9A 7G7

Telephone: (519) 257-6400
Fax:(519) 257-6333

3rd floor, 1 Front Street West
P.O. Box 10, Station A
Toronto ON M5W 1A3

As of , all correspondence for the Front St. office can be directed to the new address provided below.

1980 Matheson Blvd. East
Mississauga, ON L4W 5R7

Telephone: (416) 973-6423
Fax:(416) 954-8337

Prairie Region
Main floor, Federal Building
269 Main Street
Winnipeg MB R3C 1B3

Telephone: (204) 983-3758
Fax:(204) 983-8849

Pacific Region
607-333 Dunsmuir Street
Vancouver BC V6B 5R4

Telephone: (604) 666-0760
Fax:(604) 666-1876

Appendix F

List Of PWGSC Offices

Directors General

Science, Informatics and Professional Services Sector (SIPSS)
Floor 12C1
Place Du Portage Phase III
12C1, 11 Laurier Street
Hull QC K1A 0S5

Aerospace Marine and Electronics Systems Sector (AMES)
Floor 7C1
Place du Portage, Phase III
7C1, 11 Laurier Street
Hull QC K1A 0S5

Industrial and Commercial Products and Standardization Services Sector (ICPSS)
Place du Portage, Phase III
7A2, 11 Laurier Street
Hull QC K1A 0S5

Regional Directors General of PWGSC

Atlantic Region
1713 Bedford Row
Halifax NS B3J 3C9

Quebec Region
7th floor
Guy-Favreau Complex
Room 702-14, 200 René-Lévesque Boulevard West
Montréal QC H2Z 1X4

Ontario Region
10th floor
Joseph Sheppard Building
4900 Yonge Street
Toronto ON M2N 6A6

Western Region
Regional Director General
Edmonton AB T5J 4E2

Pacific Region
Room 641, 800 Burrard Street
Vancouver BC V6Z 2V8

References

Issuing office:
Duty Deferral
Trade Incentives Program Division
Trade Policy and Interpretation Directorate
Headquarters file:
6551-0
Legislative references:
Customs Tariff, tariff item 9982.00.00
Financial Administration Act
, section 23
C.R.C., c. 755 as amended by SI/88-18
Order in Council P.C. 1970-1913, November 3, 1970, as amended
Other references:
D7-4-1, D7-4-2, D11-6-6, D11-8-5, D17-1-21
Superseded memorandum D:
N/A
Date modified: