Handbook of Export and Import Commodity Codes

F-1: North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Export

With the implementation of the NAFTA on January 1, 1994 the export to the United States or Mexico of apparel, textiles and textile products as described on page F2 are eligible for NAFTA tariff rate reductions up to specified Tariff Preference Levels (TPL) provided the exporter obtains a Certificate of Eligibility for these shipments. Without a Certificate, shipments will not receive the NAFTA rate of duty. This Certificate must be transmitted to the United States or Mexican importer for presentation to U.S. or Mexican Customs officials at the border.

Allocation criteria for TPL:

Exporters should refer to Notice to Exporters Serial No. 70 dated December 1993 or contact the Export and Import Permits Bureau at (613) 944-1805.

Application for Certificate of Eligibility:

It should be noted that the export of the commodities described on page F1-1 do not require an export permit for shipments to the United States or Mexico. Exported goods which do not meet the rules of origin may have access to the NAFTA duty rates through the TPL. Exporters must apply to the Export and Import Permits Bureau for a Certificate of Eligibility at the time of export if they require access to the TPL.

When making application for a Certificate of Eligibility, exporters should use the HS coding and the unit of measure listed in sections F2 and F3.

F1-1: Textiles & Apparel

A) Apparel and made-up goods that are both cut (or knit to shape) and sewn or otherwise assembled in Mexico or the United States from fabric or yarn produced or obtained outside the free trade area.

B) Fabric and Made-up Goods.

  • (1) Cotton or man-made fiber fabric and made-up textile goods provided for in Chapters 52 to 55, excluding goods containing 36% or more by weight of wool or fine animal hair, and in Chapters 58, 60 and 63 of the Harmonized System (HS) that are woven or knit in Canada, Mexico or the United States from yarn produced or obtained outside the free trade area, or knit in Canada, Mexico or the United States from yarn spun in the free trade area from fiber produced or obtained outside the free trade area; and,
  • (2) Goods of subheading 9404.90 of the Harmonized System (HS) that are finished and cut and sewn or otherwise assembled from fabric of subheadings 5208.11 through 5208.29, 5209.11 through 5209.29, 5210.11 through 5210.29, 5211.11 through 5211.29, 5212.11, 5212.12, 5212.21, 5212.22, 5407.41, 5407.51, 5407.71, 5407.81, 5407.91, 5408.21, 5408.31, 5512.11, 5512.21, 5512.91, 5513.11 through 5513.19, 5514.11 through 5514.19, 5516.11, 5516.21, 5516.31, 5516.41, 5516.91 of the HS produced or obtained outside the free trade area.

C) Cotton or man-made fiber yarns provided for in headings 52.05 through 52.07 or 55.09 through 55.11 that are spun in Canada, Mexico or the United States from fiber of headings 52.01 through 52.03 or 55.01 through 55.07, produced or obtained outside the free trade area.

  • "apparel goods" means goods provided for in Chapters 61 and 62 of Schedule I to the Customs Tariff;
  • "Canada" has the same meaning as in subsection 2(1) of the Customs Act;
  • "free trade area" means the area comprising Canada, Mexico and the United States;
  • "third country" means any country or territory other than Canada, Mexico or the United States;
  • "Mexico" has the same meaning as in section 2.2 of the Customs Tariff;
  • "United States" has the same meaning as in section 2.1 of the Customs Tariff.