Malaysia is the newest country to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which includes Canada and nine other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

This means that Canadian importers will now benefit from tariff cuts on eligible products imported from Malaysia. (The same applies for Canadian exports to Malaysia.) This is in addition to the existing tariff eliminations between the other Asia-Pacific member countries that have already joined the Trans-Pacific Partnership: Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

According to Government data, Canada imports around $2.7 billion of merchandise from Malaysia each year. The top imports are:

  • Electrical and electronic machinery and equipment: $1.6 billion
  • Miscellaneous industrial products: $287 million
  • Agricultural products (fats and oils, cocoa): $240 million
  • Rubber: $141 million
  • Metals and minerals: $71 million

Am I eligible for a refund?

You can apply to the Canadian Border Services Agency for a refund of duties if it’s within four years of the date that the eligible goods were imported from Malaysia on or after Nov. 29, 2022.

Read more about applying for a refund under Memorandum D6-2-3, Refund of Duties.

The CBSA also recommends that importers request a ruling if they have any doubt as to the correct origin, tariff classification, or value for duty of goods. The procedures for obtaining a ruling are outlined in the following documents:

You can read more about tariff elimination under the CPTPP here.

Read more: Customs Notice 22-22: Amendment to the Departmental Consolidation of the Customs Tariff – Malaysia

To stay informed on import news and other important updates, PARTNER UP WITH A CUSTOMS BROKER HERE