COVID-19 has quickly and severely disrupted supply chains and
international trading routes. Governments and their customs
agencies are streamlining customs clearance procedures, reducing
tariffs on essential goods and extending important regulatory
deadlines. They are doing this to fast track importations of
essential and emergency goods, as well as to ease administrative
burdens on importers to support public health and give lifelines to
critical industries that employ millions of workers at risk for
layoffs.
In Canada, importers (resident and non-resident) should be aware
that the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) issued three
important customs notices on March 16, 18 and 19, which provide the
following: