CUSMA Rules of Origin Regulations — 12
e directly involved in the set-up, operation or maintenance of tools or equipment used in the production of those vehicles or parts. Direct production work may take place on a production line, at a workstation, on the shop floor or in another production area. Direct production work also includes (a) material handling of vehicles or parts; (b) inspection of vehicles or parts, including inspections that are normally categorized as quality control and, for heavy trucks, pre-sale inspections carried out at the place where the vehicle is produced; (c) work performed by skilled tradespeople, such as process or production engineers, mechanics, technicians and other employees responsible for maintaining and ensuring the operation of the production line or tools and equipment used in the production of vehicles or parts; and (d) on-the-job training regarding the execution of a specific production task. Direct production work does not include any work by executive or management staff that have the authority to make final decisions to hire, fire, promote, transfer and discipline employees or any workers engaged in research and development, or work by engineering or other personnel that are not responsible for maintaining and ensuring the operation of the production line or tools and equipment used in the production of vehicles or parts. It also does not include any work by interns, trainees, students, or any other worker that does not have an express or implied compensation agreement with the employer. ( travailleur qui participe directement à la production ) direct production worker means any worker whose primary responsibilities are direct production work, meaning at least 85% of the worker’s time is spent performing direct production work. ( travailleur affecté à la production directe ) first motor vehicle prototype means the first motor vehicle that (a) is produced using tooling and processes intended for the production of motor vehicles to be offered for sale; and (b) follows the complete motor vehicle assembly process in a manner not specifically designed for testing purposes. ( premier prototype de véhicule automobile ) heavy truck means a vehicle, other than a vehicle that is solely or principally for off-road use, of subheading 8701.20, 8704.22, 8704.23, 8704.32 or 8704.90, or a chassis fitted with an engine of heading 87.06 that is for use in such a vehicle. ( camion lourd ) high-wage assembly plant for passenger vehicle or light truck parts means a qualifying wage rate production plant that is operated by a producer or by a supplier with whom the producer has a contract of at least three years for the materials listed in paragraphs (a) to (c), provided that the plant is located in the territory of a CUSMA country and that it has production capacity of (a) 100,000 or more engines of heading 84.07 or 84.08; (b) 100,000 or more transmissions of subheading 8708.40; or (c) 25,000 or more advanced battery packs. Such engines, transmissions or advanced battery packs are not required to qualify as originating. ( usine de montage à rémunération élevée pour les pièces de véhicules de promenades ou de véhicules utilitaires légers ) high-wage assembly plant for heavy truck parts means a qualifying wage rate production plant that is operated by a corporate producer or by a supplier with whom the corporate producer has a contract of at least three years for the materials listed in paragraphs (a) to (c), provided that the plant is located in the territory of a CUSMA country and that it has a production capacity of (a) 20,000 or more engines of heading 84.07 or 84.08; (b) 20,000 or more transmissions of subheading 8708.40; or (c) 20,000 or more advanced battery packs. Such engines, transmissions or advanced battery packs are not required to qualify as originating. ( usine de montage pour les pièces de camions lourds ) high-wage labour costs means the sum of wage expenditures, not including benefits, for workers who perform direct production wo