“The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) did not fully have what it needed to carry out its enforcement priorities in 2015,” says a report from Canada’s auditor general. As a result, illegal goods left the country.
The audit applied to the export of commercial goods, except those to the United States. Because of the huge volume of trade with the U.S. and the Free Trade Agreement, exports to that country are generally not handled by the CBSA.
Several ‘weaknesses’ flagged
As regards exports to other countries, the auditor general found the CBSA had several weaknesses. “The Agency did not review all export declarations and did not examine many targeted high-risk shipments,” says the report.
It also noted that the Agency is hampered by the fact that shipments under $2,000 are not required to be declared, and that illegal drugs were exported this way.
The auditor found staff levels to be part of the problem. It seems exporters can wait until the last minute to file declarations thereby improving the chances they not be examined. The auditor suggested the system governing customs declarations be made electronic.
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