Trade News

The following is excerpted from a 21 March 2012 news release by Canada Border Serivces Agency. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reports that in 2011, more than 6,000 aircraft, and 2,000 boats — carrying more than 870,000 travellers, and 35,000 commercial shipments — entered Canada via Nova Scotia's air or marine ports of entry. This release is available in its entirety at:

The following is excerpted from a 21 March 2012 news release by Canada Border Serivces Agency. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reports that in 2011, more than 200 passenger cars, 5,000 aircraft, and 2,000 boats — carrying more than 180,000 travellers, and 4,000 commercial shipments—entered Canada via Newfoundland and Labrador's land, air, or marine ports of entry. This release is available in its entirety at:

CCS Designates are advised that three free quizzes will be available during 2012 on the following dates:

The following is a CBSA message (EDI12-025) 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 Wednesday, March 28, 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.

The following is excerpted from a 19 March 2012 news release by the World Customs Organization. Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), Kunio Mikuriya, calls on Customs administrations worldwide to increase their vigilance at borders on cultural artefacts that may be smuggled or exported illegally from the Syrian Arab Republic by criminals and other unscrupulous persons using the current political situation in the country as a cover.

The following is excerpted from a 20 March 2012 news release by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today concluded a two-day trade visit to Argentina, where he met with political and business leaders to advocate more trade and job-creating partnerships between Canada and Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay—the countries that make up the Mercosur customs union.

Members may be interested in the Statutes of Canada, 2011, Chapters 23 to 26, from 30 November - 16 December 2011, published on 19 March 2012 in Part III of the Canada Gazette. http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p3/2011/g3-03403.pdf _________________________________________________

The CTCS (Certified Trade Compliance Specialist) designation:

The following is excerpted from the 21 March 2012 edition of The Globe and Mail. When word leaked that Viterra Inc. was a takeover target, the immediate assumption was that interest in the company was driven by changes to the Canadian grain market in the wake of the federal government eliminating the monopoly on export sales held by the Canadian Wheat Board.

The following is excerpted from a 20 March 2012 news release by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Canadian swine producers will benefit from increased export access with the support of the Government of Canada. Parliamentary Secretary Pierre Lemieux (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced today an investment of more than $1.3 million to help the Canadian Swine Exporters Association (CSEA) increase its international marketing and promotion of Canadian purebred swine genetics.

The following meat hygiene directives are now available in HTML and PDF versions at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/eng/1331922875874/1331923733369 MHD 2012-14 Chapter 11 - Section 11.7.3 - United States MHD 2012-11 Chapter 11 - Section 11.3 The PDF version of directives should be used for maintaining print copies of the meat hygiene manual of procedures. _________________________________________________

Based on extensive consultation with government, academic and Canadian business and industry representatives, the Government has identified 13 priority markets around the world where Canadian opportunities and interests have the greatest potential for growth. An overview for each priority market is available on the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada website at: http://www.international.gc.ca/commerce/strategy-strategie/r.aspx?view=d

The following is a CBSA message (EDI12-024) Further to Message EDI12-019 (Update) sent on March 8, 2012, please find attached the updated list of HS codes subject to Natural Resources Canada requirements. This list reflects the 2012 Customs Tariff updates. These changes will be effective in the ACROSS system on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, and the CBSA website will be updated accordingly.

The following is excerpted from the 20 March 2012 edition of Embassy Magazine. A new government report has given trade talks between Canada and Japan a thumbs up, but noted that both countries aren't seeing eye-to-eye on several trade issues, and will want to protect industries like agriculture—leading one expert to cast doubt on the seriousness of the exercise.

This notice is to inform importers and brokers that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will be implementing phase 9 of the changes to import notification requirements for products in the non-federally registered food sector effective June 25, 2012. Please click on the following link for more information.

Chapter 16 was published to add new OGD extensions. 16.03.00.5548.00 - Pork - other processed 16.03.00.5548.01 - Extract or concentrate 16.03.00.5548.02 - Other This generated requirement version changes for the following HS codes. 16.01.00 - Sausages and similar products, of meat, meat offal or blood; food preparations based on these products 16.02.10 - Homogenized preparations 16.02.20 - Of liver of any animal 16.02.41 - Of swine: hams and cuts thereof

Further to the notice sent earlier today regarding NRCan’s list of updated HS codes, we have been advised that the effective date is now March 28, 2012. Questions and comments can be sent to the CSCB at [email protected] _________________________________________________

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) would like your feedback on proposed changes to the Health of Animals Act intended to strengthen livestock and poultry traceability in Canada. http://inspection.gc.ca/eng/1325170775384/1325170880037 _________________________________________________

Further to messages sent on March 7th and 8th regarding NRCan’s list of updated HS codes, we have now been advised that these HS codes will be updated in ACROSS and the CBSA website on March 26th, 2012. CBSA has confirmed that a spreadsheet with these HS codes will be provided prior to March 26th. Questions and comments can be sent to the CSCB at [email protected] _________________________________________________