Market Access Strategy for Japanese Vehicle Exports

Company Profile

A major Japanese automotive manufacturer with production facilities in Cambridge and Woodstock, Ontario, representing 46% of total light vehicle production in Canada. Toyota produces over 570,000 light vehicles annually in Canada, employing thousands of workers while operating under a “build where you sell” philosophy that relies on just-in-time delivery systems.

Project Goal

To optimize export strategies for vehicles destined for CPTPP markets while addressing the complex 45% regional value content requirement under CPTPP rules of origin. The company needed to balance compliance across multiple trade agreements while maximizing benefits from the Canada-Japan auto side letter, which provides improved market access and MFN treatment.

Our Consultation

We developed a comprehensive CPTPP compliance strategy leveraging the bilateral automotive agreement between Canada and Japan. Our specialized content tracking systems maximized regional value calculation using the net cost method, while our supply chain adjustments optimized parts sourcing from CPTPP member countries. This approach successfully qualified vehicles for preferential tariff treatment in Australia (reducing tariffs from 5% to 0%) and Malaysia (reducing tariffs from 30% to 0%) through CPTPP side letter provisions, increasing exports to CPTPP markets by $3.2M within the first year while maintaining CUSMA compliance for US-bound production.