Trade News

Chapter 44 was published to add the miscellaneous code "Oak cubes (less than 1.5 cm in thickness), oak wood shavings and chips as part of wine kits or oak cubes in wine barrels specifically for the purpose of flavouring" to the following End uses "Other end uses - with bark" and "Other end uses - without bark" for the following HS code 44.01.22.0122.02 - Oak - wood chips, wood particles, nuggets This created requirement version changes for the following HS codes:

The following message has been sent to the CSCB by CBSA: As you know, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is committed to publicly releasing a semi-annual list of all of its active compliance verification priorities, in the interest of transparency and the promotion of self-compliance. To that end, please find attached a copy of the January 2012 list of compliance verification priorities, in both English and French, for distribution to your members. Please note that the next update is scheduled to be released shortly after July 1, 2012.

The following is excerpted from the 9 January 2012 edition of WorldTrade\Interactive. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has formally proposed changing its policy on the applicability of transaction value in the context of post-importation adjustments. This change would make it easier to make transfer pricing adjustments after importation and could result in some duty savings as well. Comments on the proposed change, which would be effected through the revocation of ruling HQ 547654, are due no later than Jan. 27. This article is available in its entirety at:

The following is from the 9 January 2012 edition of the American Shipper. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on Jan. 9-10 will hold working-level meetings with South Korea in Seoul to continue discussions related to implementation of the U.S.-Korea trade agreement. The delegations will discuss each other’s respective laws and regulations related to implementation of the trade agreement, USTR said.

Starting Date Appeal No. Appellant Act Type of Hearing 2012-01-17 AP-2011-021 Performance Steel Specialties Inc. Customs Act Public Hearing 2012-01-24 AP-2011-015 Levolor Home Fashions Canada Special Import Measures Act File Hearing 2012-01-26 AP-2011-024 Canadian Tire Inc. Customs Act Public Hearing

The following is excerpted from a 6 January 2012 news release by CBSA. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that it is initiating investigations into the alleged injurious dumping and subsidizing of certain potassium silicate solids originating in or exported from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

This is a reminder that a full database backup of the production database (PROD) is scheduled for Saturday, January 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 and 7am EST. __________________________________________________

The following is now available on the CBSA Web site: Memorandum D1-4-1, CBSA Invoice Requirements http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d1/d1-4-1-eng.html __________________________________________________

Members may be interested in the following, published on 7 January 2012 in Part I of the Canada Gazette. 1. Canadian International Trade Tribunal, Commencement of Interim Review, Mattress innerspring units. http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2012/2012-01-07/html/commis-eng.html#… 2. Canadian International Trade Tribunal, Determination, Stainless steel sinks.

The following message is from CBSA (EDI12-003). Please note that there have been changes to the list of HS codes subject to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency requirements. Changes are effective in the ACROSS system according to the attached list. The CBSA website will be updated the week of January 9, 2012 to reflect these changes. Please see attachment.

a) Chapter 08 was published to remove the "trial importation period" for the following HS codes originating from the Republic of Korea. NO REQUIREMENT VERSION CHANGES. 08.08.10.4001 - Apples (fresh) 08.08.10.4002 - Crabapples (fresh) b) Chapter 08 was also published to streamline the import conditions for the following HS codes originating from the Netherlands. NO REQUIREMENT VERSION CHANGES.

Members may be interested in this notice from CFIA regarding facilities designated for the Inspection of Meat Products from the US. __________________________________________________

The following is a 6 January 2012 notice from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. CSCB will be following up with them. Please be advised that CFIA is aware that the HS code filter list posted on the CBSA web site is currently incorrect. CFIA and CBSA are working together on updating the HS code filter list and will advise you once it's made available. __________________________________________________

The following is excerpted from a 5 January 2012 news release by the World Trade Organization. At the joint requests of Canada, Mexico and the US, WTO members meeting as the Dispute Settlement Body agreed on 5 January 2012 to extend to 23 March 2012 the deadline for the adoption or appeal of the panel reports in the case about country of origin labelling (COOL) requirements. This release is available in its entirety at:

The following is excerpted from a 6 January 2012 news release by The Conference Board of Canada. Canada’s labour market ended the year on a positive note, adding 18,000 jobs in December. The gain followed two disappointing months of declines, and it brought employment growth for 2011 as a whole to 1.2 per cent. Despite the December gain, the unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage points to 7.5 per cent, as more people entered the labour force in search of jobs.

The following is excerpted from a 5 January 2012 news release by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz addressed an enthusiastic audience today at the Western Canadian Wheat Growers 42nd Annual Convention.

The following is from the 5 January 2012 edition of the Journal of Commerce. Changes align U.S system with WTO-recommended international tariff code Importers and exporters are getting their first look at the revised U.S. Harmonized Tariff System after changes were released through a presidential proclamation on Wednesday.

The following is from the 5 January 2012 edition of the Journal of Commerce. U.S. trade up 28.7 percent from two years ago, up 8.7 percent from 2008 The value of trade using surface transportation between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico rose 12 percent to $79 billion in October, the Transportation Department reported. Totals were up for trade with both U.S. partners in the North American Free Trade Agreement. U.S.-Canada trade posted a 14.1 percent year-over-year gain to $46.4 billion. U.S.-Mexico trade rose 9.1 percent to $32.6 billion.

The CSCB Toronto Region is offering an education seminar entitled " NAFTA - Automotive" on January 17, 2012, between 3:00 and 6:00 pm. The seminar will take place at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Toronto Airport, 6257 Airport Road in Mississauga. Speakers: Jade Litwinenko and Cathy Casquenette, CBSA Register Now!

The following message is from CBSA (EDI12-002). The following attachment contains the 24/7 contact information for all border offices. Please share this information with all of your teams (day, after hours and weekends). __________________________________________________