Trade News

The following is excerpted from the 2 April 2012 edition of The Globe and Mail. As leading advocates for our respective countries’ automotive manufacturing industries, we recognize the unique relationship that exists between the Canadian and U.S. economies, especially as it relates to manufacturing and trade. Our two economies don’t simply trade goods with each other, we design and build things together for sale in the global marketplace and, in that process, support millions of jobs. This opinion piece is available in its entirety at:

Members may be interested in the following report, published on 28 March 2012: Open Government Consultation Report: What We Heard http://www.open.gc.ca/consult/results-resultatstb-eng.asp _________________________________________________

The following is excerpted from a 1 April 2012 news release by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. New trade initiative will save steel companies $10 million per year and contribute to economic growth and long-term prosperity

The following is a 30 March 2012 news release by Export Development Canada. Export Development Canada (EDC), Canada’s official export credit agency, and Sberbank of Russia, Russia’s largest commercial bank, today announced a trade finance partnership that aims to increase Canadian trade in the Russian Federation. Under the agreement, EDC will provide USD 275 million in financing to Sberbank to support transactions where Sberbank’s customers are buying Canadian supply and services. This release is available in its entirety at:

The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today released The Fiscal Monitor for January 2012. Highlights January 2012: budgetary surplus of $1.7 billion

Spring is here and once again we are looking forward to our highly anticipated series of annual regional conferences. This year, in addition to our conferences, a special eManifest seminar has been scheduled for Calgary. So, please save these dates and watch for further details with registration details in the coming weeks. Wednesday, May 23 (afternoon only) – Prairie Regional Conference in Winnipeg Thursday, May 24 (afternoon only) – eManifest seminar in Calgary Friday, May 25 – BC Regional Conference in Vancouver

The following is a CBSA message (EDI12-031) The Electronic Commerce Unit will be closed for the Easter holiday from Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 17:00 (Eastern Time) until Monday, April 9, 2012 at 08:00 (ET). On Monday, April 9, between 08:00 and 16:00 (ET), officers will be available at 1-888-957-7224 to deal with production issues only.

The following is a 30 March 2012 news release by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Canada's Economic Action Plan 2012 demonstrates the Government's commitment to the future prosperity of farmers and the safety of Canadian food. "Our Government was elected on a promise to focus on the economy and create jobs and growth in the agricultural industry," said Minister Ritz. "That's why our Government is squarely focused on innovation, market access and improving service to Canadians." This release is available in its entirety at:

Chapter 03 was published to streamline the requirements for the following HS codes with the following end uses: Aquarium-commercial, Aquarium-Private, Live bait, Dead bait, Canadian goods returning to Canada, Ceremonial or religious use, Culture, Diagnostic testing, Display in a zoo or public aquarium, Outdoor holding unit-commercial, Outdoor holding unit-private, Feeding aquatic animals to aquatic animals, Impoundment, In transit, Manufacturing feed for aquatic animals, Research and educational use, Show or exhibition, Stocking, enhancement or refresh.

This is to inform importers, brokers and other interested parties that, effective April 1, 2012, all steel imports currently covered under the Import Control List of the Export and Import Permits Act will be subject to either General Import Permit No. 80 - Carbon Steel (GIP 80) or General Import Permit No. 81 - Specialty Steel Products (GIP 81). Henceforth, no shipment specific import permits will be required for the importation of steel products into Canada.

The following is excerpted from a 30 March 2012 release by Statistics Canada. Real gross domestic product edged up 0.1% in January after increasing 0.5% in December 2011. Gains in manufacturing were partly offset by a decline in oil and gas extraction in January. This release is available in its entirety at: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/120330/dq120330a-eng.htm _________________________________________________

CBSA’s website has been updated with the additions of Tariff Amendments T2012-1. This amendment, available here, affects chapter 27 in the Customs Tariff. _________________________________________________

The following is a CBSA message (EDI12-030) Please note that there will be changes to the list of HS codes subject to the Transport Canada requirements. These changes will be effective in the ACROSS system on Monday, April 16, 2012, and the CBSA website will be updated accordingly. Please see attachment. If you have questions on these changes please contact Transport Canada, Road Safety and Motor Vehicle Regulation Unit at 1-800-333-0371.

Chapter 28 was published to add the following OGD extensions 28.01.10.9000 - Chlorine, other 28.03.00.9000 - Carbon black, other 28.06.10.9000 - Hydrogen chloride (hydrochloric acid), other 28.08.00.9000 - Nitric acid, other 28.11.22.9000 - Silicon dioxide, other 28.11.29.9000 - Other inorganic oxygen compounds, other 28.12.10.9000 - Chlorides and chloride oxides, other 28.15.11.9000 - Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda): Solid, other 28.15.20.9000 - Potassium hydroxide (caustic potash), other

The following is a CBSA message (EDI12-028) Sunday, April 1st, 2012 EDI Inbound Outage: For maintenance purposes, between 05:00 and 09:00 (Eastern Time), we will be unable to process inbound traffic for the following EDI applications: Electronic Releases, RNS, CSA, ACI Marine, ACI Air, ACI eManifest Highway as well as Rail and Highway Cargo. CADEX and CUSDEC B3s and AO release queries transmitted to the CADEX system will not be affected by this outage. We regret the inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation.

Starting Date Case No. Product 2012-04-10 RD-2011-001 and RD-2011-003 Aluminum Extrusions 2012-04-23 NQ-2011-002 Stainless Steel Sinks 2012-10-15 RR-2011-002 Bicycles _________________________________________________

The following item has been updated on the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada website: Ongoing FTA Negotiations Exploratory Discussions towards a Canada-Turkey Free Trade Agreement http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr… _________________________________________________

The following is excerpted from a 28 March 2012 press release by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal today initiated an expiry review of its order made on December 10, 2007, in Expiry Review No. RR-2006-001, concerning the dumping of certain bicycles from Chinese Taipei and China. This release is available in its entirety at: http://www.citt.gc.ca/press/rr2l002_e.asp _________________________________________________