Trade News

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.

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has proposed amendments to the Energy Efficiency Regulations for general service incandescent reflector lamps, including Bulged Reflectors (BR); Elliptical Reflectors (ER); Reflectors (R); Parabolic Reflectors (PAR); Blown Parabolic Reflectors (BPAR); and lamps of similar shapes. These amendments include goods that are imported or manufactured in Canada and shipped interprovincially, and are intended to ensure compliance with minimum energy performance standards.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has issued a news release announcing that it has signed three Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) with customs organizations in Japan, Singapore and South Korea. The new arrangements will promote a smarter, more secure and efficient border. The signing of these MRAs took place at the recent WCO Council meeting in Brussels. Other MRAs were signed between Korea and Singapor, and Korea and the United States.

The following message is from CBSA (EDI10-057). The Electronic Commerce Unit of the Canada Border Services Agency will be closed on the statutory holiday of Thursday, July 1, 2010. B3 entries processed and accepted July 1, 2010 will appear on the daily K84 notice generated at the end of the day July 2, 2010. The exchange rates for Thursday, July 1 and Friday, July 2 (inclusive) will remain unchanged. Thursday, July 1, 2010 will not be counted in the calculation of overdue B3 entries.

Chapter 07 was published to change the release recommendation from "Approved" to "Refer to CFIA-ISC" for the following HS Codes for the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic and Turkey. 07.02.00.0001 - Tomatoes, field (fresh or chilled) 07.02.00.0002 - Tomatoes, greenhouse (fresh or chilled)

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has proposed amendments to the Energy Efficiency Regulations to include High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lamp Ballasts. These amendments include goods that are imported or manufactured in Canada and shipped interprovincially, and are intended to ensure compliance with minimum energy performance standards. NRCan does not propose any changes to the importing requirements currently in place and dealers/importers must continue to provide the following information on import documents or via electronic transmissions:

The southern route between Swift Current and Lethbridge reopened early yesterday morning. Traffic is now moving between Swift Current and Calgary via CP's Taber, Aldersyde and MacLeod subdivisions. The southern mainline work between Swift Current, Dunmore, Medicine Hat, and Calgary has progressed very well and line clear restoration is now expected for Tuesday morning. We will continue to secure all available detour routing from other railways until all backlog is handled and CP returns to a fluid state as soon as possible.

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has proposed amendments to the Energy Efficiency Regulations for General Service Fluorescent Lighting. These amendments affect goods that are imported or manufactured in Canada and shipped interprovincially, and are intended to ensure compliance with minimum energy performance standards. NRCan does not propose any changes to the importing requirements currently in place and dealers/importers must continue to provide the following information on import documents or via electronic transmissions:

The following is excerpted from the today’s news release by DFAIT. The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade, today showcased Canadian innovations and leading-edge technologies during a tour of Canadian business displays at the Experience Canada pavilion in Toronto, Ontario.