Trade News

CRA Interest rates for the second calendar quarter The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced the prescribed annual interest rates that will apply to 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 rates indicated below will be in effect from April 1, 2010 to June 30, 2010. Income tax The interest rate charged on overdue taxes, Canada Pension Plan contributions, and Employment Insurance premiums will be 5%.

Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in Ontario Starting July 1, 2010, Ontario is harmonizing its provincial sales tax with the federal sales tax. The current retail sales tax (RST) will be replaced with a more modern, value-added tax that will be combined with the federal goods and services tax to create a harmonized sales tax (HST).

Canada Poised to Become “Tariff-Free Zone” for Manufacturers Thanks to Budget 2010 The following is excerpted from the 9 March 2010 news release by Finance Canada. Measures in Budget 2010 to eliminate all remaining tariffs on manufacturing inputs and machinery and equipment will be critical to creating jobs and growing the economy, according to the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, and the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade, who highlighted the measures today….

The following message is from CBSA (EDI10-015). Please be advised the changes outlined in Tariff Notice TN-49 and TN-49-1 found on the CBSA website (http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/menu-eng.html) have been updated in the Customs Commercial System (CCS) with an effective date of March 5th, 2010. We will notify you as soon as the CADEX formatted files have been posted on the Internet site. For further questions regarding the CADEX formatted updates contact the Electronic Commerce Unit at 1-888-957-7224.

The following message is from CBSA (EDI10-015). Please be advised the changes outlined in Tariff Notice TN-49 and TN-49-1 found on the CBSA website (http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/menu-eng.html) have been updated in the Customs Commercial System (CCS) with an effective date of March 5th, 2010. We will notify you as soon as the CADEX formatted files have been posted on the Internet site. For further questions regarding the CADEX formatted updates contact the Electronic Commerce Unit at 1-888-957-7224.

Further to our note in yesterday's 2010 Federal Budget message, the following is a CBSA message (EDI10-014). Please be advised the changes outlined in Tariff Notice TN-49 are expected to be available for use in the Customs Commercial System (CCS) by March 10, 2010 and the CADEX formatted records should be on the CBSA website (www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/menu-eng.html) the day after. For more detailed information on the amendment, please refer to www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2010/tn49-eng.html.

From May 4-7, 2010, Argentina will host the 2010 IFCBA World Conference in Buenos Aires. Held only every two years, the IFCBA conference is the best forum for private sector customs experts to learn and exchange ideas about trade facilitation and border management. Click here for up to date conference information and continue to watch the IFCBA website for additional details as they are announced. IFCBA Secretariat www.ifcba.org

CFIA HS Code Filter List Further to our ealier emails regarding Changes to import notification requirements, the CFIA has provided the HS Code Filter list that includes the complete 10 digit classification for goods that will be effective March 15. The list is available at: http://cscb.ca/listinfo/CFIA_HS_Code_Filter_List-20100309.pdf.

CBSA has provided additional information regarding the centralization of B2 processing. As of April 10, 2010, all B2s will be processed in either Quebec or the GTA, with some exceptions. Following are excerpts from a letter from CBSA; the letter in its entirety is available at: http://cscb.ca/listinfo/B2_20100305.pdf.

CBSA has provided a copy of Tariff Notice 49-1, available in English at: http://cscb.ca/listinfo/TN-49-1.pdf and in French at: http://cscb.ca/listinfo/TN-49-1_fr.pdf. This notice relates to tariff changes made as a result of the 2010 Budget. Tariff Notice 49-2 has also been provided, and is available at: http://cscb.ca/listinfo/TN-49-2.pdf. This notice advises that there was an error in the Microsoft Access format, WinZip version of the Customs Tariff that was posted on the CBSA website on March 5, 2010.

Many government departments and agencies are involved in the importation of goods into Canada. CBSA published a reference list of the most commonly imported commodities that may require permits and/or certificates from other government departments or agencies. The list is available at: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5073-eng.html.

CFIA Production Database Backup, 6 March This is a reminder that a full database backup of the production database (PROD) is scheduled for Saturday March 6th, 2010 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.

Reminder of changes to import notification requirements The following reminder is from CFIA. Members are advised that we have asked for the full 10-digit HS codes to be provided before the implementation date.

CS Designate Quiz 1 CCS designates are advised that Quiz 1 will be available later on in March. Details will be provided via daily emails and on our website. We apologize for this delay.

CSCB Regional Annual Conferences Events you won’t want to miss are the CSCB Regional Conferences! Atlantic Regional Conference, May 29 in Charlottetown, PEI BC Regional Conference, June 2 in Richmond, BC QC Regional Conference, June 11 in Montreal, QC TO/ON Joint Regional Conference, June 17 in Niagara Falls, ON Attendance at a conference is worth 10 CCS professional development points.

Update to Plant Protection Policy Directives The following directives have been revised: D-06-04 "Seed Potato Quality Management Program (SPQMP)"

Update to the National Aquatic Animal Health Program (NAAHP) The "Aquatic Animal Health Export Policy Framework" has been updated and is available on the CFIA website at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/aqua/exp/pol/exp-2009-0101e.s….