Trade News

CBSA has advised that the travelling public that the Milltown, New Brunswick port of entry is now open. The port was temporarily closed due to weather related flooding in the area. To facilitate your travels, please check CBSA's Travel Tips and Border Wait Times.

Release of The Fiscal Monitor for November 2010 The following is a 17 December 2010 news release by Department of Finance. The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today released The Fiscal Monitor for October 2010. Highlights October 2010: budgetary deficit of $4.1 billion There was a budgetary deficit of $4.1 billion in October 2010, compared to a deficit of $3.3 billion in October 2009.

CN 10-025: Proposed Regulatory Change in Support of the NEXUS and CANPASS Programs and the Alternative Presentation of Persons Under the Customs Act 1. This notice announces a proposed regulatory change in support of the NEXUS and CANPASS programs and the alternative presentation of persons under the Customs Act.

Import Policies http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/pol/pole.shtml Bee Products Amendments: This directive has been extensively revised and completely replaces any previous versions. http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/pol/ie-2001-3e.shtml

December 27th and 28th 2010 and 03 January 2011 are designated government holidays, and the Bureau's offices will be closed (no officers or Help Desk staff will be available). The EICS will be available as usual - daily 04:00 - 24:00 and Saturday from 04:00 to 20:00 (EST) for the seasonal period. However, on Sunday 2 January 2011, there will be no web access to EICS within the hours of 9:00 and 17:00. All transactions submitted via EDI during that period will be queued for processing upon resumption of service at 17:00 or earlier if possible.

The Import Control Division will be closed for the Christmas holidays from Friday 24, December 2010 at 4:00 pm (ET) until Wednesday 29, December 2010 at 8:00 am. If you require assistance please contact the Import Service Centre located in Toronto (ON) or Montreal (QC). EISC - Montreal: 1-877-493-0468, 514-493-2468, FAX 514-493-4103 NISC - Toronto: 1-800-835-4486, 905-795-7834, FAX 905-795-9658

Chapter 07 was published to change the release recommendation from "Refer to CFIA-ISC" to "Approved" for the following HS Codes for various countries. 07.09.60.0001 - Pepper (fresh or chilled) 07.09.60.0002 - Bell pepper (fresh or chilled) 07.09.60.9999 - Other fruits of the genus Capsicum Please check your version number before submitting through EDI. If you have any questions, please contact your Import Service Centre.

CFIA has advised that Canada and the U.S. have completed their review of the pest-risk associated with wood packaging material and have concluded that pest risks can be addressed by requiring wood packaging moving between the two countries be compliant with ISPM 15 (2009). A harmonized implementation date will be established. Details are available here.

As a result of weather related flooding in the area, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has temporarily closed the Milltown New Brunswick Port of Entry. Travellers are urged to use the St. Stephen Port of Entry until further notice. Please check Border Wait Times for updates on the St. Stephen Port of Entry and wait times at other locations.

CBSA have provided clarification of the terminology used for the three types of workstations in highway border operations. These are:

The following is a CBSA message (EDI10-113). Saturday, December 18th, 2010 Partial EDI Outage: For maintenance purposes, the following EDI applications will be unavailable from 04:30 to 05:30 (Eastern Time) AND from 08:00 to 08:30 (ET) : Electronic Releases, RNS, CSA, ACI Marine, ACI Air, ACI eManifest Highway as well as Rail and Highway Cargo. Please note that CADEX and CUSDEC B3 processing will not be affected by this outage, except between 05:00 and 05:30 (ET) as indicated below.

a) Chapter 04 was published to: i) add new OGD extensions: 04.04.10.3544.00 - Cattle whey 04.04.10.3544.01 - Cattle whey fresh 04.04.10.3544.02 - Cattle whey condensed 04.04.10.3544.03 - Cattle whey solubles condensed modified 04.04.10.3544.04 - Cattle whey cultured condensed 04.04.10.3544.05 - Deproteinized cattle whey permeate, condensed 04.04.10.3544.06 - Cattle whey low lactose dehydrated 04.04.10.3544.07 - Cattle whey and whey solubles, dehydrated

The ACROSS EDI release requests received report for November 2010 is available on the CSCB website at: http://www.cscb.ca/listinfo/EDI-Release-Nov-2010.xls The National Percent EDI was 93.4%.

Members are reminded that enrolment for the 2010-11 CCS (Certified Customs Specialist) course closes this Friday, December 17! All enrolment forms and payment must be submitted by the end of day Friday. Enrol now! Questions concerning the CCS course can be sent to the CSCB at [email protected].

The following is a 15 December 2010 news release by Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. Appropriation Bill for the fall Supplementary Estimates (C-58) becomes law without amendments.

The following is from the 16 December 2010 edition of "globeandmail.com". Americans' stronger appetite for imported goods helped to lift the broadest measure of the U.S. trade deficit in the July-September quarter to its highest point since late 2008.

The CSCB Toronto Region is offering a seminar entitled "Trouble Shoot The Blanket Adjustment Process" on January 26, 2011, between 3:00 and 6:00 pm. The seminar will take place at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, 6257 Airport Road in Mississauga. Members with questions about seminar content can email Ken Tracy at [email protected] or call him at 416-593-1380.

The following is from the 16 December 2010 edition of "Reuters Canada". Canada's dollar traded flat on Thursday morning, largely in line with global equity markets, as investors took pause after coming within a tick of parity with the U.S. currency the day before. European shares shed early gains and peripheral euro zone bonds dipped on Thursday after Spain paid a high premium at a debt auction, while U.S. stock index futures signaled a weaker open.