Interpretation of Tariff Item 9959.00.00Memorandum D10-15-15

Ottawa, October 28, 2014 This document is also available inPDF (133KB)[help with PDF files] This memorandum has been revised to reflect a change of policy in respect of "conversions" of vans to motor homes, to reflect the decision of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal in the case Great West Van Conversions Inc.Appeal No. AP-2010-037. This memorandum outlines and explains the interpretation of tariff item 9959.00.00 of the List of Tariff Provisions set out in the schedule to theCustoms Tariff.

Customs Tariff Tariff item 9959.00.00 reads: Materials of Section III, VI, VII, XI, XIII, XIV or XV or of Chapter 45 or 48, or electric conductors for a voltage exceeding 1,000 V (excluding winding wire and co-axial conductors), for use in the manufacture of passenger automobiles, buses, trucks, ambulances or hearses, or chassis therefor, or parts, accessories or parts thereof, other than rubber tires and inner tubes.

1. Certain materials are admissible free of duty under tariff item 9959.00.00 when for use in the manufacture of passenger automobiles, buses, lorries (motor trucks), ambulances or hearses, 2. The Canada Border Services Agency considers goods such as plastic sheeting, textiles, paper products, etc., not cut to size or shape, and artificial plastic moulding pellets to be "material" for the purposes of tariff item 9959.00.00. This does not include products such as cutting oils which may be used in the manufacturing process but which do not form part of the finished product. This broad interpretation has been given to both the English and French versions of theCustoms Tariff. 3. Tariff item 9959.00.00 is not restricted to materials for use in the manufacture of parts and accessories for original equipment manufacturing purposes; materials for use in the manufacture of aftermarket parts (repair and replacement parts) and across-the-counter accessories are also admissible. For example, materials for use in the manufacture of accessories such as car masks (grille protectors for sports cars), or wiring for use in the manufacture of parts such as ignition sets, are eligible for consideration under tariff item 9959.00.00. 4. The words "for use in the manufacture" are subject to the legal definition as found in section 2 of theCustoms Tariff, which reads as follows: "for use in," wherever it appears in a tariff item in respect of goods classified in the tariff item, means that the goods must be wrought or incorporated into, or attached to, other goods referred to in that tariff item. 5. Snowmobiles, golf carts and similar recreational vehicles are not considered to be "passenger automobiles" for the purposes of tariffitem 9959.00.00.

6. For certainty regarding the tariff classification of a particular good, importers may request an advance ruling. Details on how to make such a request are found in CBSAMemorandum D11-11-3,Advance Rulings for Tariff Classification. 7. For more information, call contact theCBSABorder Information Service(BIS):Calls within Canada & the United States (toll free):1-800-461-9999Calls outside Canada & the United States (long distance charges apply):1-204-983-3550 or 1-506-636-5064 TTY:1-866-335-3237 Contact Us online(webform)Contact Usat the CBSA website