The Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety and Her Excellency Miriam Ziv, Israeli Ambassador to Canada, today announced that Canada and Israel have signed a Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement. Minister Toews and Ambassador Ziv were joined by Malcolm Brown, Executive Vice-President of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Doron Arbely, Director General of the Israel Tax Authority and Yitzhak Cohen, Israel’s Deputy Minister of Finance, for the signing of the Agreement in Ottawa.
“This agreement with Israel strengthens our countries’ mutual abilities to investigate and prosecute customs offences and enhance global security,” said Minister Toews. “We are committed to working closely with our international partners to ensure the security and prosperity of Canada.”
“Economic relations with Canada are very important for Israel. This agreement will serve as a platform to enhance bilateral trade and will benefit the economies of both countries,” said Mr. Doron Arbely, Director General of the Israel Tax Authority. “Not only will the agreement facilitate exports, it will also help authorities to enforce and monitor this trade.”
The Agreement provides the legal framework for Canada and Israel to share customs information to prevent, investigate and combat customs offences. These agreements emphasize the importance of working with international partners to assist with the facilitation of people and goods, and to ensure the security and prosperity of Canada.
The signing of the Agreement further enhances the already very strong Canada-Israel bilateral relationship and, in particular, how the CBSA works in collaboration with its customs counterparts in Israel.