Currently any Canadian who purchases a US RV from a US dealer, which is assembled on a Mercedes-Benz Chassis (e.g. Views, Prisms, Vias, etc..) and wishes to import into Canada, will be charged an additional 6.1% Duty by Canadian Customs folks. Why, because the VINS start with W = German made chassis, therefore are not considered "American Made" under NAFTA. Canadian Customs will convert your US purchase price into Canadian dollars and then assess the 6.1% tax on the total Canadian price. This is in addition to the normal GST/PST applicable to your Province/Territory of residency. Recently the Canadian Government signed a CAN/EU trade agreement which apparently will mean within the next 7 years all automobile tariffs on imports from the EU will be eliminated. Sooo, this should mean no more 6.1% import duty at the Canadian border right? I've asked the folks at Winnebago to explore with their political counterparts in the US the possibility of "expediting" the elimination of the CAN/US 6.1% duty based upon Mr. Harper's recent EU agreement. Whether they pursue this, time will tell folks.
On this same topic...I'd be curious to know whether fellow Canadians also feel that this 6.1% Duty charged on the "TOTAL CANADIAN PURCHASE PRICE" of a US RV on a MB chassis is "miscalculated"..In other words "today" Canadian Customs should simply charge the 6.1% tax on just the cost of the chassis, because all the rest of the entire RV, which is the majority of the purchase price, is American Made & Assembled...so under NAFTA should be exempt from duty. "Am I Right or Am I Wrong Folks"? Who can answer this query. PS: I know some folks will suggest to buy ones RV in Canada, and honestly I tried, but even with the US to CAN conversion, the 13% HST, and yes even the 6.1% duty...I can't find a better deal than picking one up in the US for several thousand dollars less. Warranty issues on these rigs can be achieved by scooting across the border to the nearest US service outlet. Interested in hearing your thoughts folks.
