Originally posted by rceme_rat:
[Of course, if the NATO standard remains 9mm, that is a consideration - as is the fact that he US is using 9mm.[/QB]
Much to the disappointment of the Americans, you are right. NATO‘s standard is 9mm Parabellum. It is not likely to change. The U.S. preferred and asked NATO to use the .45 ACP cartridge, as it is subsonic (can be easily silenced), has very good stopping power, and good overall penetrative power. The 9mm is overpowered, and as a result, zips through most things with hardly the same punch. I have heard that the 9mm will deflect off common laminated windshield safety glass at oblique angles, without penetrating.
.45 ACP is a U.S. calibre. Although common in the U.S., it isn‘t common anywhere else. It is also more expensive than 9mm. The ‘niner‘ is by far the most common handgun cartridge in the western world, and in particular Europe. Since NATO doctrine always (previously) envisioned a land war in Europe, this was thought to be the deciding factor -- availability of a cheap, common round that was easily produced in large quantities in existing ammunition factories in Europe.
Personally, my vote would be for the 10mm or the .40S&W, which blend the .45‘s stopping power, with the high capacity of the 9mm. Of course it isn‘t common at all in Europe, and it is comparitively more expensive to produce because of that. The 10mm in particular has not been subjected to enough ballistics tests, and has been hampered by lack of mfg‘r support. Only the FBI use it. Others that the European armies would probably support are .380 ACP and .32 cal, both of which are used in civvie police agencies in Europe, but are generally considered to be underpowered for military use.
[qb]Anyone have any idea how much trade protection Para-Ordnance gets by virtue of being the sole Canadian handgun manufacturer? Is there a duty on non-US manufacturers?[/qb]
Of course, U.S.-made anything is duty free, thanks to NAFTA.
The Most-Favoured Nation Tariff Treatment rate on pistols and revolvers is 3.5% duty. The HS Code for handguns is 9302.00.00.10 (revolvers) and 9302.00.00.20 (pistols).
However, many countries qualify for duty free import of pistols and revolvers. Besides NAFTA (which includes Mexico and the US), other zero-rated tariff treatments are: NZT (New Zealand Tariff), CIAT (Canada-Israel Agreement on Tariffs), LDCT (Least-Developed Country Tariff), GPT (General Preferential Tariff), and two which I am sure are the Caribbean-Canada Tariff and the Commonwealth Tariff.
MFN countries generally are limited to just Europe. Even China, believe it or not, qualifies as a "General Preferential Tariff" country.
Of course, arms and ammunition for military purposes also require an Import (or Export) Permit from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, as they are subject to quotas and other controls, and this may increase the cost of importing certain goods.