Canada Opens Door For Mexican Used Car Imports

by Glen Shapiro, LawAndTax-News.com, New York

04 May 2011

Canada has amended its motor vehicle and environmental legislative provisions to provide for used vehicle importation from Mexico under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

Having received Royal Assent, the amendments to Canada's Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA) and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) permit the import into Canada of those used vehicles from Mexico which can be modified to meet Canadian safety and environmental standards.

According to the Canadian Transport Ministry, the changes ensure that Canadian regulation complies with NAFTA and allows for the continuation of what the government describes as its cooperative relationship with Mexico.

Further amendments are required to make the new regime fully functional, including adjustments to the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations, enabling importation of used vehicles from Mexico, which are expected to take between one and two years. Emissions regulations will also need to be altered in the coming years.

Commenting on the changes, Chuck Strahl, Canadian Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, said that: "We’re trying to give Canadian consumers more choice by updating the MVSA to allow them to import eligible vehicles from Mexico”.

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