Trade News

Members may be interested in updated regulations found in Part II of the June 30, 2010 issue of the Canada Gazette. This issue lists changes to various regulations concerning the application of GST/HST. These regulations are available here: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2010/2010-06-30-x4/pdf/g2-144x4.pdf#p…

D17-1-22 provides information on the collection and accounting of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), Provincial Sales Tax (PST), provincial tobacco tax and alcohol markup/fee on all casual goods cleared in the courier and commercial streams, i.e. goods imported for individual use or mail-order goods. For information on casual goods cleared in the traveller stream, see Memorandum D2-3-6, Non-commercial Provincial Tax Collection Programs.

Updated D2-3-6 provides general information for administering agreements between the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and provincial authorities. The CBSA has agreed to collect provincial taxes for certain provinces on non-commercial goods imported through various means, specifically by travellers. As well, this memorandum contains information about the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) agreements, between the Minister of Finance for Canada and the participating provinces, for collecting the HST on non-commercial importations by travellers.

Concerning an expiry review determination under paragraph 76.03(7)(a) of the Special Import Measures Act regarding THE DUMPING OF REFINED SUGAR ORIGINATING IN OR EXPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DENMARK, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, THE NETHERLANDS AND THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE SUBSIDIZING OF REFINED SUGAR ORIGINATING IN OR EXPORTED FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION

Brokers are advised that the correction period for JUNE 2010 Softwood Lumber permits ends Friday July 9th 2010, at 17:00 ET. We remind you of the importance of submitting correct information on permits as this is imperative to the operation of the Softwood Lumber Agreement. Please submit permit corrections for the month of June before the end of the correction period, as is the case for every allocation month of the year.

Effective July 1st, updates will be made to the CFIA form 5272 "Request for documentation review." You will find the updated form on the CFIA web site at the following web address: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/for/pdf/c5272e.pdf

Thursday 1st of July 2010 is a designated government holiday, and the Bureau's offices will be closed (no officers or Help Desk staff will be available). The EICS system will be available Thursday 04:00 - 24:00 (EST). Please note that the Help Desk email ONLY will be monitored on the 1st of July between 08:00 - 16:00 (EST) for urgent messages.Questions or problems can be directed to the following EICS help desk email: [email protected]

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has proposed amendments to the Energy Efficiency Regulations under which dealers in Canada would be required to comply with higher efficiency requirements for water chillers. Dealers who import these goods into Canada must include the following information on the release request:

This summer travel season, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) joined efforts to remind summer travellers of document requirements to travel into both countries. The two agencies want to educate travellers about these requirements to make their travel experience a more enjoyable one. CBP reminds travellers:

Please be advised that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Eastern Import Service Centre (EISC) located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, will remain operational through March 2011. All Import requests and shipments relating to CFIA regulated commodities coming through the Atlantic Provinces and Quebec should continue to be directed to the EISC. The combined hours of operation of the two Import Service Centres (ISC’s) located in Toronto & Montreal offer support for import processing twenty hours per day, seven days per week.

Thursday 1st of July 2010 is a designated government holiday, and the Bureau's offices will be closed (no officers or Help Desk staff will be available). The EICS system will be available Friday 04:00 - 24:00; Saturday from 04:00 to 20:00 and Monday from 04:00 - 24:00 (EST). Please note that the Help Desk email ONLY will be monitored on the 1st of July between 08:00 - 16:00 (EST) for urgent messages.Questions or problems can be directed to the following EICS help desk email: [email protected]

The following message is from CBSA (EDI10-058-Update). Problem resolved We are now able to process inbound and outbound messages for clients using the following connections: - Sterling VAN - AT&T VAN - Viasafe VAN - GEIS VAN - CN Direct Connect - CP Rail Direct Connect And the communication problems between ACROSS and the CFIA EDI System are now RESOLVED.

The following message is from CBSA (EDI10-058). We are unable to process inbound and outbound data for clients using the following connections: - Sterling VAN - AT&T VAN - Viasafe VAN - GEIS VAN - CN Direct Connect - CP Rail Direct Connect Also, we are currently experiencing communication problems between ACROSS and the CFIA EDI System. For urgent requests, please present paper. There is no ETA.

In order to make the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) web page more accessible to users, the following URL link has been created. inspection.gc.ca/airs (english) inspection.gc.ca/sari (french) Clicking on the URL will direct you to the AIRS page ( http://inspection.gc.ca/english/imp/airse.shtml) located on the inspection site.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) today announced the prescribed annual interest rates that will apply to any amounts owed to the CRA and to amounts the CRA owes to individuals and corporations. These rates are calculated quarterly according to applicable legislation. The rate indicated below will be in effect from July 1, 2010 to September 30, 2010. These are available on their web site, at: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/nwsrm/rlss/2010/m06/nr100628b-eng.html

Please note: Ottawa CFIA Meat Import Control Centre (1-877-682-5191) will be opened Thursday 1 July 2010 from the hours of 8 AM to 6 PM.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) National Import Operations Division will be closed for the Canada Day holiday on Thursday 1 July 2010 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (ET). If you require assistance please contact your nearest Import Service Centre. 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 We regret the inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation.