Welcome to the Montreal
Foreign trade zone centre

Your preferred partner for access information and ressources related to foreign trade programs. The Montreal foreign trade centre is an initiative of CargoM, the Logistics and Transportation Metropolitan cluster of Montreal, and its partners.

If you import goods

  • ​Be more competitive by simplifying customs procedures
  • Exemption / Deferral / Refund of duties and taxes

  • You can transform your premises into a foreign trade zone (FTZ) type space

About 

In Canada, businesses can benefit from FTZ-type incentives nationwide. This is why Canada designates FTZ Points to assist and support businesses that wish to take advantage of the programs.

The benefits of the Canadian Foreign Trade Zone programs include:

  • Reduction of administration burden
  • No geographical restrictions – programs available regardless of location
  • Improved cash flow
  • Reduction of operating costs
  • Increased international competitiveness

A Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) is a specific location in a given country where the purchase or import of raw materials, components or finished products is officially eligible for exemption from tariffs and taxes. Such materials and goods can generally be stored, processed or assembled in the FTZ for re-export (in which case taxes and duties generally would not apply) or for sale on the domestic market (in which case taxes and duties are deferred until they enter the market). (Source: Department of Finance Canada).

Foreign Trade Zones and international agreements

A few things to know:

  • Free trade agreements do not exempt you from taxes (GST goods and services tax).
  • Free trade agreements impose strict rules that must be respected.
  • Foreign trade zones can be a complementary alternative to free trade agreements.

 

In the absence of a free trade agreement with the country of origin of your goods, FTZ programs are a sure value.

image-apropos

The programs

If your business imports raw materials into Canada and then exports the raw material (processed or unprocessed), you may be interested in the Duty Drawback Program (DDP).

Even if duties have already been paid on imported goods that will be exported later, the refund can be obtained. The DDP makes it possible to apply for a refund of duties paid on imported goods that are subsequently exported. The application must be submitted within four years of the date of import.

A DDP application may be made if the goods are in the same condition at the time of their export as when they were imported, or if they are used to manufacture other goods that are then exported.

Through the Duties Relief Program (DRP), a business does not have to pay duties on imported goods that are stored, processed or used in the manufacture of other products, as long as these goods or products are subsequently exported. The DRP offers other advantages, such as:

  • A business has up to four years from the date of importation to export its goods before it has to pay duties.
  • Goods may be sold or transferred to other authorized duties relief participants having to pay duties. In this case, it is the company receiving the goods that assumes liability for any duties.
  • Canadian-made parts can be substituted for imported parts to produce finished goods is possible in order to better adapt to changing market conditions.
  • There is no need to post security, such as bonds or licensing fees.

Please note that the CBSA may occasionally check to ensure that these requirements are met.

In the e-commerce era, the Customs Bonded Warehouse Program (CBW) could provide significant support to businesses that import and export.

A customs bonded warehouse is a storage facility operated under the authority of the CBSA. It does not have to be a conventional warehouse. It can be part of an office building or even a conference room in a hotel, depending on the needs at the time. This formula provides considerable flexibility in how goods are stored, handled and transported, which can be a valuable competitive advantage.

Benefits of a customs bonded warehouse:

  • No duties or taxes are paid until the goods are sold on the Canadian market.
  • If the goods are exported, no duties or taxes are payable.
  • You can import bulk goods, store them in your warehouse and use them when you need them. This has the effect of reducing initial costs, since duties and taxes are paid only on goods that are sold on the Canadian market.
  • Goods can be stored for up to four years, during which time they can be handled in various ways as long as they are not significantly altered.

The EOPS program, which is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), in the province of Québec by Revenu Québec, relieves participants of the obligation to pay GST/HST on imports of goods belonging to non-residents, provided that these goods are imported for processing, distribution or storage and are subsequently exported. Participants benefit from higher cash flow and lower operating expenses.

The EDCP is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency, in the province of québec by Revenu Québec. The program is for export-oriented businesses that import goods and/or acquire goods in Canada, process them to add limited value and then export them. The “limited value” criterion is a key factor here, since the EDCP is not intended for companies that manufacture or produce new products for export.

Territory of the Montreal FTZ Center

We serve the entire Montreal metropolitan community. Our service offer is integrated into the existing support networks for importing and exporting businesses. On the map you will find, depending on the location of your business, the export assistance services commonly known as ORPEX (export promotion organizations) as well as economic development teams.

Partners

Baie D’Urfé

Beaconsfield

Beauharnois

Beloeil

Blainville

Bois-des-Filion

Boisbriand

Boucherville

Brossard

Calixa-Lavallée

Candiac

Carignan

Chambly

Charlemagne

Châteauguay

Contrecoeur

Côte-Saint-Luc

Delson

Deux-Montagnes

Dollard-Des Ormeaux

Dorval

Hampstead

Hudson

Kirkland

L’Assomption

L’Île-Cadieux

L’Île-Dorval

L’Île-Perrot

La Prairie

Laval

Léry

Les Cèdres

Longueuil

Lorraine

Mascouche

McMasterville

Mercier

Mirabel

Mont-Royal

Mont-Saint-Hilaire

Montréal

Montréal-Est

Montréal-Ouest

Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot

Oka

Otterburn Park

Pincourt

Pointe-Calumet

Pointe-Claire

Pointe-des-Cascades

Repentigny

Richelieu

Rosemère

Saint-Amable

Saint-Basile-le-Grand

Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville

Saint-Constant

Saint-Eustache

Saint-Isidore

Saint-Jean-Baptiste

Saint-Joseph-du-Lac

Saint-Lambert

Saint-Lazare

Saint-Mathias-sur-Richelieu

Saint-Mathieu

Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil

Saint-Philippe

Saint-Sulpice

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue

Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines

Sainte-Catherine

Sainte-Julie

Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac

Sainte-Thérèse

Senneville

Sorel-Tracy

Terrasse-Vaudreuil

Terrebonne

Varennes

Vaudreuil-Dorion

Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac

Verchères

Westmount

Industrial and Commercial Sites and building Selection tool ZoomMtl

Services offered

CargoM, the Logistics and Transportation Metropolitan Cluster of Montreal, as part of  its mission to support the development of Greater Montreal’s transportation and logistics sector, and backed by its partners, is proud to have obtained the designated of Foreign Trade Zone Point for the territory of the Metropolitan Montreal Community.  Through this dedicated information center, you will have access to all the information concerning FTZ-type programs.

Information sessions

  • Overview of the program
  • Verification of program eligibility
  • Program application toolkit
  • Free trade and import agreements

Practical training workshops for businesses

All of the programs have an impact on your business operations. You have up to four years before you lose the right to apply for a customs duty refund if you meet all the criteria.

We offer hands-on workshops to enable you use the knowledge you learned to:

  • Complete a drawback claim
  • Apply for a bonded warehouse
  • Apply to the Duties Relief Program

Our resources

The Montreal FTZ Center has privileged access to the various federal agencies involved in the import-export process of a business. This access will enable us to make our companies more competitive and ensure their growth by maximizing the use of the incentives available for their activities.

Please fill out a basic online form or contact the trade zone center coordinator if you have any questions or wish to assess your eligibility for one or more of the programs.

Then, once your eligibility has been established, we can guide you through the various steps, from the initial application to the final response from the government agency requested. For more information on our services, click on the Contact tab.

Display the certification on your marketing materials

CargoM and the Montreal Foreign Trade Zone Center offers certification to companies participating in one of our service provider programs. To find out more, contact us by filling in the form.

Brings together intermodal players

The cluster that brings together all Greater Montreal freight transport and logistics stakeholders whose activities promote Montreal as an industry hub around common goals and concerted actions to increase its cohesion, competitiveness, growth and reach.

Contact us

How to benefit from the programs

Check to see if your business qualifies for an FTZ-type program.

For all inquiries, please use the dedicated information line at the Montreal Foreign Trade Zone Center or fill out the form below.

Port of Montreal Building

2100 Pierre-Dupuy Avenue
Wing 2, Suite 2100
Montréal (Québec) H3C 3R5

Designated foreign trade zone centre for Greater Montreal