Higher Fees for Imports from U.S.!!

[Badger]

For those that have got used to buying at U.S. auctions and importing into Canada, here's a annoucenment from Questar about a new fee schedule that could severely cut down on that activity.

Questar Announcements (click here)

October 6th 2008...

Effective immediately we have suspended all new 3rd Party Imports until we can get clarification from US State Department on the new fee structure they have just implemented. On September 25th 2008 US State Department posted on their website a new fee structure for Exporters dealing in ITAR products. This new fee structure essentially increases our cost to process export permits by well over 1,000% and according to their notice it's retroactive. Given these changes you can expect a sizeable change in the fee we will have to charge from here on for any exports that we handle. This wont' just affect us... expect to see a definite reduction in US companies renewing their export registrations and for those that continue expect to see much higher fees - which means considerably higher gun and parts costs. This is going to have a very detrimental affect on the firearms market as far as US made products are concerned.

Regards,
Badger

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[desporterizer]

You would think with their economy circling the bowl the US would be doing all it can to encourage exports. Come to think of it, this whole state department thing is really getting on my nerves. They can take their new fees, restrictions & guns, & stuff them where the sun don't shine.

[Skippy]

Thats depresing news. I though ti was bad enough when Questar hiked up THEIR fees, now the US government is in on the gouge...

[Greg]

1000% Increase, how do you read that? 10X the current price of importing?

IE: (100% X10) =1000% (Is my math right?)

So if it was $400-500 to import a rifle before, now ADD $4000 to $5000?

[Stevo]

1000% Increase, how do you read that? 10X the current price of importing?

IE: (100% X10) =1000% (Is my math right?)

So if it was $400-500 to import a rifle before, now ADD $4000 to $5000?

That's pretty much the way I read it, give or take the original fee.

[BCLOGGER]

#%&*!! Guess I'll only be buying Swiss or Swedish surplus firearms from now on.

[skeet1]

After throwing the tea in the harbor a couple of hundred years ago our U.S. government seems to have forgotten one of the reasons the first revolution took place. Some day they will be reminded again.

Skeet1

[Brian Dick]

The U.S. Dept. of State, Office of Defense Trade Control has increased the yearly export license registration another $1000 from $1750 to $2750. They are retroactively charging exporters who have done more than 10 submissions in a year's time $250 per submission for the amount over ten as of 25 September 2008. I'm raising my export fee from $500 to $750 to collect the extra fee. I'm eating the retroactive $250 on 30 that I've done this year. The cheaper exporters are going to be hard hit by this and I'd imagine that many won't renew their export registrations when they come due which is the long term goal I should think. I'm told by a good source in the trade that U.S. barrel manufacturers are being hit the worst because the ones registered have a high volume of submissions and the $250 per retroactive fee will bring some of the smaller companies near bankruptcy. With the election of a new leftist government in the USA, I'd guess that it's only the beginning.

I've never charged a separate fee for exports of firearms purchased from BDL LTD. Now I have to charge an additional $250 on top of the purchase price and shipping charge which is a deal killer, especially on small single rifle purchases. Those who are interested can read the Federal Register document at http://www.pmdtc.state.gov/documents.../73FR55439.htm.

[Mick]

There is nothing made in the US that can not be made here in Canada.

[tiriaq]

There is nothing made in the US that can not be made here in Canada.

That is more or less true, of course. There are things being made in the US that are being made in Canada as well. There are other things that could be made in Canada.
But if you look at the database available on this site detailing rare original firearms, the export situation becomes significant. Some of the newer entries in the MKL were from the Stern collection, liquidated by the James D Julia auction house.