Trade News

The following is from the 23 January 2012 edition of the Journal of Commerce. Forecasters predict gradual recovery despite risks American consumers are using their credit cards again, and forecasters expect retail sales and containerized imports to accelerate modestly this year. “We remain firm in our view that there will be growth this year, coming primarily in the second half,” said Ben Hackett, founder of Hackett Associates, which produces the monthly Global Port Tracker report for the National Retail Federation.

The following is excerpted from a 23 January 2012 release by Statistics Canada. The composite leading index increased 0.8% in December, following a 0.9% gain the previous month. The increase was broad-based with 8 of the 10 components rising. This release is available in its entirety at: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/120123/dq120123a-eng.htm __________________________________________________

The following is excerpted from the 20 January 2012 edition of The Montreal Gazette. Mega Brands Inc., maker of Mega Bloks, toys, puzzles and craft products, said Friday it has withdrawn its legal action in U.S. District Court, Central District of California, against Danish-based Lego Juris A/S and the Lego Group after receiving formal confirmation that U.S. Customs will not interfere with imports of any Mega products into the U.S. ... This article is available in its entirety at:

The following is a 20 January 2012 news release by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz today issued a statement following the release of the report from the Red Tape Reduction Commission earlier this week and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business Red Tape Awareness Week news release on farmers in Canada issued today.

Members may be interested in the following, published on 21 January 2012 in Part I of the Canada Gazette. 1. Canadian International Trade Tribunal, Commence of Interim Review on findings made on March 17, 2009, in Inquiry No. NQ-2008-003, respecting the dumping and subsidizing of certain aluminum extrusions. http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2012/2012-01-21/html/commis-eng.html#…

Chapter 01 was published to add the the following OGD extension. 01.06.90.2113.83 - Onthophagus taurus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) This created requirement version changes for the following HS Code. 01.06.90.2113 - Predatory mite - Parasites and Predators Please check your requirement version number before submitting through EDI. If you have any questions, please contact your Import Service Centre. __________________________________________________

This message is to inform you that a Technical Guidance Document for the Marine Spark-Ignition Engine, Vessel and Off-Road Recreational Vehicle Emission Regulations (Regulation) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 has been published. This document is intended to aid you in the understanding of the Regulations and consequently compliance with the Regulations.

CFIA have advised that the following National Import Service Centre telephone number is no longer in service: 905-795-7834. Information on CFIA’s website will be updated shortly. The following numbers can be used to contact the National Import Service Centre: 7:00 a.m. to 03:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) Telephone and EDI: 1-800-835-4486 (Canada or U.S.A.) or 1-289-247-4099 (local calls and all other countries) Facsimile: 1-905-795-9658 __________________________________________________

The following forms have been updated and are available on the Canada Revenue Agency website: RC1A Business Number (BN) - GST/HST Account Information http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/rc1a/README.html RC1B Business Number (BN) - Payroll Deductions Account http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/rc1b/README.html RC1C Business Number (BN) - Import/Export Account Information

The following is excerpted from a 19 January 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, and the Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources, today released the following statement in response to a report from Forestry Innovation Investment, a B.C. Crown agency, that exporters in that province are sending record amounts of lumber to China:

The following is excerpted from the 20 January 2012 edition of The Globe and Mail. Currency traders love the monthly import and export data, which provide an excellent guide of how much demand exists for dollars, euros, yen, francs and the like. But for anyone seeking a more precise understanding of the dynamics of international trade, the data compiled by customs agents are about as about as relevant to a modern economy as carbon paper... This article is available in its entirety at:

The following is excerpted from the 20 January 2012 edition of CBC News. South Korea is resuming imports of Canadian beef after an eight-year ban, reports say. South Korean media, including the The Korean Herald, say the government made the announcement today in Seoul... This article is available in its entirety at: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/01/20/beef-ban-south-korea.h…

The following is excerpted from the 20 January 2012 edition of Reuters Canada. Canada's annual inflation rate eased more than expected in December to levels closer to the Bank of Canada's 2 percent target, making it easier for the central bank to keep rates low or even cut them if the European debt crisis worsens.

Importation of non-manufactured and non-propagative wood products from U.S. states where the Asian long-horned beetle (ALHB) (Anoplophora glabripennis) is known to occur (ie., Massachussetts, New Jersey, New York and Ohio). The CFIA just published a new policy directive, D-11-05, Phytosanitary requirements for non-manufactured and non-propagative wood products to prevent the introduction from the continental United States and spread within Canada of the Asian Long-horned Beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky).

a) Chapter 16 was published to add the conditions for "Further processing" for the following HS Codes. 16.05.21 - Shrimps and prawns : Not in air tight container 16.05.29 - Shrimps and prawns : Other This created requirement version changes for the following HS Codes for the same end use. 16.05.10 - Crab 16.05.30 - Lobster 16.05.40 - Other crustaceans 16.05.51 - Molluscs : Oysters 16.05.52 - Molluscs : Scallops, including queen scallops 16.05.53 - Molluscs : Mussels

The following message is from CBSA (EDI12-005) Saturday, January 21st, 2012 CCS / CADEX Outage: Please be advised that due to scheduled maintenance, CCS/CADEX will be down from 05:00 to 05:30 (Eastern Time). CADEX and CUSDEC B3s and AO release queries transmitted to the CADEX system will be affected by this outage. Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 Full EDI Outage :

For your reading pleasure, please find attached the winter edition of our newsletter CBSA Today: Commercial News for Stakeholders. The newsletter will be made available shortly on the CBSA website. Should you wish to submit ideas for future editions or should you have any feedback about this edition, please let us know via email at [email protected]. Thank you. The BCCC Secretariat

The following is excerpted from a December 2011 report by The Conference Board of Canada. In an era of global value chains and vertical trade, conventional import–export data can distort the “real” trade picture. The Conference Board’s work on value-added trade helps address this issue, yielding some striking findings in the process. This report is available in its entirety at: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/e-library/abstract.aspx?did=4586

The following is from the 19 January 2012 edition of American Shipper. Establishment of new centers aimed at helping expedite the import process for specific industries will take a couple of years longer than originally announced, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The following is from the 18 January 2012 edition of the Journal of Commerce. Helps Moroun's argument that publicly owned U.S.-Canada bridge isn't needed The 2.5 percent year-over-year decline in truck traffic on the Ambassador Bridge in 2011 gives the bridge’s owner ammunition in his fight to stop the construction of a publicly owned crossing.