Protecting Canada’s Economy: MP Brian Masse Pushes for Action Against Counterfeit Imports
Ottawa, ON - On Tuesday, June 18, Brian Masse, MP for Windsor West and NDP critic for Canada-US border issues, joined representatives from IPIC and the Canadian Anti-Counterfeiting Network (CACN) to call on the federal government to re-establish CBSA’s commitment to protecting consumers from the dangers of counterfeit goods. They urged the immediate prioritization of detaining counterfeit goods at the border.
In a joint press conference, they pressed the federal government to reinstate and enhance the CBSA Request for Assistance (RFA) program. The RFA program authorizes CBSA border officers to detain shipments suspected of containing counterfeit goods, which pose significant threats to businesses and consumers in Canada. Since the beginning of summer 2023, there has been a notable decline in RFA interceptions, leading to increased organized crime activity.
With interception rates at around 600 annually, Canada is the only G7 country on the 2023 United States Trade Representative Watchlist (USTR), harming our international reputation and trade relationships.
IPIC would like to thank MP Brian Masse, Jagmeet Singh, MP for Burnaby South & Leader of the New Democratic Party, and the Canadian Anti-Counterfeiting Network (CACN) for their dedication in bringing attention to this matter.
Quotes:
“Canada and the United States are each other’s largest trade partners, with nearly $3.6 billion worth of goods crossing the border each day, approximately one third of which crosses in my riding. We must demonstrate that Canada can be trusted to protect consumers from counterfeit goods to fellow Canadians and our trade partners alike,” said Brian Masse, MP for Windsor West.
“We want to emphasize the crucial importance of a robust anti-counterfeiting enforcement program at the Canadian border. Counterfeit goods pose a significant threat to the Canadian economy, public health, and safety. Canada Border Services Agency must prioritize the Request for Assistance program to combat this issue effectively. CBSA’s officers, including those in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, are among the best border agents worldwide, but without clear and unequivocal direction to prioritize the detention of counterfeit goods, the Request for Assistance program fails,” stated Adam Kingsley, CEO of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada.
“As Canadians continue to feel more and more comfortable shopping online on third party marketplaces, and through social media, it is crucial to educate and help protect unsuspecting consumers from making the mistake of purchasing counterfeit goods. Counterfeit goods infringe on intellectual property rights, deprive legitimate businesses of revenue, and undermine innovation. The goods can be unsafe, of poor quality, and pose serious risks to consumers. A strong enforcement program at the border will help to protect legitimate businesses and consumers alike,” added Adam Kingsley, CEO of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada.
Learn more about the CBSA RFA program and key areas that need to be restored.
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