Handling CHANGE...

Change can occur quickly.

For example...
Take a look at the pictures below. The first one was taken just before take-off at the airport in Fort-Lauderdale. The second was taken just after landing in Montreal.

Within about 3.5 hours, the change in weather was mind-boggling. In Fort-Lauderdale, it was a balmy 26 degrees Celsius. In Montreal, a frost-biting minus 14 degrees Celsius. A change of 40 degrees. Again, the change occurred in under 4 hours.


That is the weather.

Can you imagine leaving a cake in the oven for too long? The cake can go from being nice and spongy to black and burnt in a matter of minutes. (I'd rather not show any pictures of my cooking where the outcome was so disastrous that the place where the dish went was straight into the composting bin.)

Monitoring a dish in the oven, on the stove top, or even the bar-b-q is essential because a slight deviation of the time used to cook/bake the dish can result in having to use Uber Eats for a "quick fix" ensuring that dinner will be served.

So change can come quickly for weather and for cooking. What about Customs?

Recently, there have been some very interesting Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) cases where the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA) duties were imposed on upholstered furniture. As well, there is currently a new investigation opened to review SIMA for mattresses. 

Not to repeat myself but take a look at the following previous BLOGs about Change...

A determination by the CITT regarding SIMA duties can effect significant change to a business. Unlike the weather changing after a 3.5 hour flight, the SIMA legislation requires that a specific timeline be adhered to for the entire duration of the investigative process. Therefore, importers should not wait for the CHANGE to take place but be actively involved with the case to understand the possible upcoming ramifications.

Other change with Customs involves audits. As noted in previous BLOG postings, the BEST PRACTICE of an importer is to be proactive with compliance and not have a reactive methodology after Customs finalizes an audit.

Change can bring much benefit to a business but also much hardship.

Don't wait for change to control your business. Have your business control the change!

Location: Montreal, QC, Canada

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