Canadian accused at U.S. border of 'stealing American jobs'
A B.C. sales representative who markets equestrian products in Canada was barred from crossing the U.S. border to attend a trade show last month by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer who accused him of trying to steal American jobs.
17/03/2009 1:49:31 PM
Joel Borsteinas, an independent sales rep who markets U.S. equestrian products in Canada, says he was yelled at and accused of stealing U.S. jobs. (CBC)
Joel Borsteinas, an independent sales rep who markets U.S. equestrian products in Canada, says he was yelled at and accused of stealing U.S. jobs. (CBC)
CBC News
"He looked at me, and in a yelling voice he said, 'You're friggin' stealing jobs away from American citizens,' and I tried telling him that I wasn't," Joel Borsteinas told CBC News.
Borsteinas, a Canadian citizen, said he's been in business for 15 years, acting as a middleman between U.S. and Canadian suppliers of western wear and equestrian products and Canadian retailers who want to stock the products.
He said he goes to the U.S. half a dozen times a year, to attend trade shows and meet with suppliers who want him to market their products to retailers north of the border. They pay him a commission for every Canadian order he sends to them.
On Feb. 26, Borsteinas said, he was on his way to a trade show in Oregon when he was pulled over at the border and questioned for an hour before being refused entry. He said he's never been stopped at the border before, and he said he always tells the truth about where he is going and why.
"Anybody that buys off an American distribution company or an American manufacturer company has some sort of a liaison in Canada," said Borsteinas.
"I'm creating American jobs. The (U.S.) companies that I actually work for - I have been in touch with them all - and they still think that this is absolutely crazy."
Borsteinas said the border officer who refused to allow him entry to the U.S. was the supervisor on duty at the time, at the Sumas crossing in southwestern B.C.
"I said, 'Well I don't actually bring the products in. I just write the orders. It's all in Canada,'" said Borsteinas.
"He says, 'Oh you are a consultant then.' I says, 'No - I'm just a salesman. I sell to Canadian stores.' And he says 'Nope, you are a consultant,'" said Borsteinas. "Once again, he says 'You are stealing jobs away from us.'"
Borsteinas said he was then fingerprinted and sent back into Canada. The border officer warned him if he tried to enter the U.S. on business again, he should expect to be prosecuted.
"He said if I ever come down to the U.S. again with the intentions of working, I will be arrested," said Borsteinas.
A spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection says attending a U.S. trade show is not grounds for an officer to refuse entry to a salesperson representing U.S. companies in Canada. He said such representatives would only be breaking the rules if they tried to peddle the products on U.S. soil.
"If they do all of their business in Canada, that's fine," said chief customs and border protection officer Thomas Schreiber. "If they are going down for a trade show, a business meeting, to go over a sales strategy with their umbrella corporation - that's a permissible activity."
Schreiber also said border officers aren't supposed to accuse anyone of trying to steal American jobs. und so weiter
Zitat A spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection says attending a U.S. trade show is not grounds for an officer to refuse entry to a salesperson representing U.S. companies in Canada. He said such representatives would only be breaking the rules if they tried to peddle the products on U.S. soil.
"If they do all of their business in Canada, that's fine," said chief customs and border protection officer Thomas Schreiber. "If they are going down for a trade show, a business meeting, to go over a sales strategy with their umbrella corporation - that's a permissible activity."
Schreiber also said border officers aren't supposed to accuse anyone of trying to steal American jobs.
Nicht nur dass die Story an sich wirklich unglaublich ist und die entsprechende Person vom Zoll vielleicht mal aufgeklärt werden müsste, dass sie über die eigene Schulter schauen müsste um die Verantwortlichen für die ganze Katastrophe zu finden, auch die Argumentation bzw. Rechtfertigung von Thomas Schreiber, was erlaubt ist und was nicht, ist haarsträubend . Haben die wirklich gar nichts begriffen?
Das Kanada Forum
Thema drucken
17.03.2009 20:19
Antworten
. Haben die wirklich gar nichts begriffen?