Trade News

The following is excerpted from the 27 March 2012 edition of The Globe and Mail. Canada is launching free-trade talks with Thailand and Japan in case Plan B must turn into Plan A, because Plan A is in trouble, thanks to what is being described as American bullying.

The CSCB BC Region would like to invite you for a dinner with CBSA guest speakers! This general meeting will take place on Thursday, April 12, 2012, between 6:00 and 9:00 pm at the River Rock Casino Resort. Guest speakers include Darlene Clips, a new BC Trade Compliance Director, and Jonathan Evans, Valuation Verification Manager who will present on the verification process, risks & quality assurance, and AMPS. Come out and meet our new trade compliance director, and get the latest on the verfication process and AMPS!

Chapter 07 was published to change the release recommendation from "Refuse entry" to "Refer to CFIA-ISC" for all countries except the Continental United States for the following HS Code. 07.01.10 - Seed This created requirement version changes for the following HS Code from the Continental United States. 07.01.10 - Seed Please check your version numbers before submitting through EDI. If you have any questions, please contact your Import Service Centre. _________________________________________________

Members may be interested in the testimony of CBP Deputy Commissioner Winkowski before the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Homeland Security which is available on the CBP website at: http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/newsroom/congressional_test/ti_test… _________________________________________________

CBSA has updated form BSF5054, Checklist for Exporting Commercial Goods. It is available on the CBSA website at: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5054-eng.html _________________________________________________

The following is from a 23 March 2012 news release by the Office of the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand, today announced that their two countries will pursue exploratory discussions towards a free trade agreement. The announcement was made during Prime Minister Harper’s official visit to Thailand.

The following is excerpted from the 25 March 2012 edition of Global News. Stephen Harper hailed the opening of free trade talks with Japan on Sunday as a "historic opportunity" while economic experts warned of the perils of opening borders to the world's third largest economy. The prime minister's long-anticipated announcement was made with his Japanese counterpart following a bilateral meeting here and came with pledges that an economic partnership would bring a bonanza of economic opportunity. This article is available in its entirety at:

The following is excerpted from the 24 March 2012 edition of Reuters Canada. The United States said on Friday it would appeal a World Trade Organization ruling against a law requiring country-of-origin labels on all meat sold in grocery stores, a move that disappointed Canada and Mexico, both of which want the law changed. The meat labels became mandatory in March 2009 after years of debate. U.S. consumer and mainline farm groups supported the requirement, saying consumers should have information to distinguish between U.S. and foreign products.

The following is from the 21 March 2012 edition of the Journal of Commerce. 2011 saw third largest year-to-year percentage increase since NAFTA took effect The value of surface transportation trade between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico increased by 14.3 percent to a record $904 billion in 2011, the U.S. Department of Transportation said. The percentage increase was the third largest year-to-year increase since NAFTA went into effect in 1994.

Further to the message sent to members on 14 March 2012 regarding the requirement for an individual import permit for steel, the following is now available on the CBSA Web site: Customs Notice 12-008, Steel and Steel Products – Elimination of Individual Permits http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/cn-ad/cn12-008-eng.html _________________________________________________

Members may be interested in the following, published on 24 March 2012 in Part II of the Canada Gazette 1. Canada Border Services Agency, under the Special Import Measures Act, a final determination of dumping and a final determination of subsidizing, pursuant to paragraph 41(1)(a) of the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA), in respect of certain pup joints. http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2012/2012-03-24/html/commis-eng.html#…

The IFCBA World Conference is the premier gathering of Customs professionals. Held only every two years, the IFCBA Conference is a “must-attend” event for those who deal with Customs and border issues on a daily basis and those who develop business plans requiring timely and accurate knowledge of global Customs trends. From May 8-12, the Divani Caravel Hotel in Athens, Greece will be the site of this year’s IFCBA Conference, “The Future of Customs Compliance: Business Models and Strategies”.

Chapter 06 was published to change the release recommendation of "Refer to CFIA-ISC" and a registration type for the following HS codes from off-continent origins. 06.04.20.0144.99 - Other tree species for fresh wreath > 1.5cm (0.6in) branch diameter 06.04.90.0145 - Wreath > 15mm (0.6in) branch diameter (not manufactured) - dried Registration type: #833 - Phytosanitary Certificate for Re-export (A-N) Please check your version numbers before submitting through EDI. If you have any questions, please contact your Import Service Centre.

This is a reminder that a full database backup of the production database (PROD) is scheduled for Saturday, April 7th, 2012. CFIA systems will be unavailable from 3am to 7am EST. Please note that full database backups of the production database (PROD) are scheduled for the first Saturday of every month between 3am to 7am EST. _________________________________________________

Please be advised that due to system maintenance all CFIA applications, including E-Mail, will not be available between the hours of 3 AM (EST) and 7 AM (EST) on Sunday, Mar 25 2012. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. _________________________________________________

The following is from a 23 March 2012 news item by the World Trade Organization. On 23 March 2012, the US notified the Dispute Settlement Body of its decision to appeal the panel reports in DS384 and DS386. This item is available in its entirety at: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news12_e/ds384_386apl_23mar12_e.htm _________________________________________________

The following is excerpted from the 23 March 2012 edition of Global News. Thailand's prime minister's hailed the possibility of free trade negotiations with Canada on Thursday and welcomed Ottawa's rediscovered interest in southeast Asia. In her remarks, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra noted that it has been 15 years since a Canadian minister last made a bilateral visit to the nation of 66 million, which is among the world's fastest growing economies. This article is available in its entirety at:

The following is excerpted from the 23 March 2012 edition of The Globe and Mail. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is back in Asia, visiting Thailand, Japan and South Korea. While there, think of him metaphorically as a fisherman with Asia as a big, blue sea.

The following is excerpted from a 22 March 2012 news release by Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. The Honourable Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for FedNor, today delivered a speech on red tape reduction and Open Government to members of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce and other representatives of the Halifax business community.