The Canadian international merchandise trade program
Introduction
The objective of this text is to provide a general overview of the balance of payments-basis data produced by the Canadian International Merchandise Trade (CIMT) Program, with special reference to concepts and definitions.
Conceptual framework
1. Objectives and coverage: The objective of balance of payments-basis CIMT statistics is to measure the change in economic transactions that involve merchandise trade between residents and non-residents. Information on imports and exports are inputs into the Macroeconomic Accounts, and are used in the formulation of trade and economic policies. Governments, importers, exporters, manufacturers and shipping companies use international merchandise trade statistics to:
- monitor import penetration and export performance;
- monitor commodity price and volume changes; and
- examine transport implications.
2. Trade statistics (customs-basis/balance of payments-basis): Merchandise trade statistics are presented on two different bases: customs and balance of payments.
Statistics for Canada’s imports as well as exports to non-US destinations are compiled from Customs declarations filed with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Data for Canada’s exports to the United States are derived from the administrative import records of the United States Customs and Border Protection and exchanged under the terms of a memorandum of understanding between Canada and the United States. Statistics developed from these Customs administrative records are commonly referred to as customs-basis trade statistics.
Customs-basis data are adjusted to conform to the National Accounts concepts and definitions. The adjustments to derive balance of payments-basis trade data include adjustments related to trade definition, valuation and timing. The principal difference between the two trade concepts is that customs-basis merchandise trade statistics cover the physical movement of goods as they are reflected in Customs documents while balance of payments-basis data are intended to cover economic transactions that involve merchandise trade between residents and non-residents.
In addition, customs-basis export statistics may understate or incorrectly portray the destination of exports. Exports are incorrectly portrayed when the country of final destination is inaccurately reported on the Customs documentation. This occurs most frequently when goods are routed through an intermediary country before continuing on to their final destination. Statistics Canada does not have a direct measure of undercoverage, therefore a monthly estimated adjustment is included within balance of payments-basis data.
3. Valuation: For Customs purposes, imports are recorded at values established according to the provisions of the Customs Act, which reflects valuation methods based on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) Valuation Code System. In general, the value for duty of imported goods must be equivalent to the transaction value or the price actually paid.
The transaction value of imported goods includes all transportation and associated costs incurred up to the point of direct shipment to Canada. Therefore, Canada's imports are valued Free on Board (FOB), place of direct shipment to Canada. It excludes freight and insurance costs in bringing the goods to Canada from the point of direct shipment.
Exports are recorded at the value declared on Customs documents, which reflect the transaction value (i.e., actual selling price or, in the case of a non-arm's length transaction, the transfer price used for company accounting purposes). Canada's exports are valued at FOB port of exit from Canada, including domestic freight charges to that point but net of discounts and allowances.
4. Statistical period: In theory, the statistical period for balance of payments-basis trade statistics reflects the month during which change of ownership occurred. Since this can be difficult to determine, in practice, the statistical period for balance of payments-basis statistics reflects the month during which the goods cleared Customs. The closing of the statistical month for imports and exports is defined as the last calendar day of the month based on the date of clearance from Customs. Documents received too late for incorporation in the current month are assigned to the month the transaction took place and are published the following statistical month.
5. Trading partner attribution (country of origin/destination): On a custom basis, imports are attributed to the country of origin, that is the country in which the goods were grown, extracted or manufactured in accordance with the rules of origin administered by the CBSA. On a balance of payments-basis, imports are attributed to the country of export instead of the country of origin to reflect the change in ownership of the goods.
Both customs- and balance of payments-basis exports are attributed to the country that is the last known destination of the goods at the time of export.
6. Principal Trading Partners (PTPs): The list of PTPs is based on their annual share of total trade — merchandise imports plus exports — with Canada in 2012. The countries included in the list of PTPs are the following:
List of Canada's Principal Trading Partners
- United States
- European Union
- Germany
- Netherlands
- France
- Italy
- Belgium
- Spain
- China
- United Kingdom
- Mexico
- Japan
- South Korea
- Hong Kong
- Brazil
- Algeria
- Norway
- India
- Switzerland
- Saudi Arabia
- Turkey
- Taiwan
- Peru
- Australia
- Iraq
- Indonesia
- Singapore
- Russian Federation
- Other OECD countries
- All other countries
7. Legal framework: Import and export statistics with countries other than the United States are derived from information contained in administrative records collected by the CBSA under the Customs Act. Copies of these documents (or information therefrom) are sent to Statistics Canada in accordance with Section 25 of the Statistics Act. It follows that the disclosure of trade statistics is governed by both the Customs Act and the Statistics Act and is subject to the provisions of Section 17(2)(a) of the latter. Disclosure of statistics for trade with the United States is governed by a memorandum of understanding that provides for the exchange of detailed import statistics between Canada and the United States.
Contact information
Telephone: 1-800-263-1136
Facsimile: 1-877-287-4369
Email: infostats@statcan.gc.ca