Trade News

The following is excerpted from a 15 December 2011 news release by Canada Revenue Agency. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) today announced the prescribed annual interest rates that will apply to any amounts owed to the CRA and to any amounts the CRA owes to individuals and corporations. These rates are calculated quarterly in accordance with applicable legislation and will be in effect from January 1, 2012 to March 31, 2012... This release is available in its entirety at:

The following is excerpted from a 15 December 2011 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 welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations in Geneva to modernize the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) and expand market access opportunities for the 15 parties—covering a total of 42 WTO members—to the agreement... This release is available in its entirety at:

The following is a CBSA message (EDI11-085) Saturday, December 17th, 2011 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, December 18th, 2011 CCS / CADEX Outage:

Minutes of the Sarnia CBSA/Customs Brokers meeting held on 22 September 2011 are now available on the Ontario Region page of the CSCB members site. To access, please go to our website at www.cscb.ca, login, and look under “Regional Activity”. __________________________________________________

The CSCB Toronto Region is offering an education seminar entitled " NAFTA - Automotive" on January 17, 2012, between 3:00 and 6:00 pm. The seminar will take place at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Toronto Airport, 6257 Airport Road in Mississauga. Speakers: Jade Litwinenko and Cathy Casquenette, CBSA Register Now! 5 CCS Points towards maintenance of the CCS designation will be awarded for this seminar.

The following is excerpted from the 14 December 2011 edition of Embassy. Far from a done deal, border plan must confront law enforcement authority, budget woes, need for political will. Canada and the United States last week announced a mammoth undertaking to reshape their relationship and build a new bilateral fortress, one that analysts say drives the relationship forward on several fronts, but remains silent on price tags and legal issues surrounding cross-border policing. This article is available in its entirety at:

Enrolment for the 2011-12 CCS (Certified Customs Specialist) course closes Monday, December 19! As the standard in the customs marketplace, the CCS designation is widely recognized and demanded by those who provide and purchase customs services in Canada. Our course is designed for adult learners who are interested in pursuing a career where customs knowledge is essential. Don't miss out - enrol now!

The BC Region is offering a seminar on January 19, 2012, between 3:00pm and 6:00 pm. The seminar will take place at Miller Thompson, at 840 Howe St. Suite 1000 in the Boardroom. Speakers: Mr. Wyatt Holyk, Director,Livingston Consulting Mr. Daniel Kiselbach, Partner, Miller Thompson Topics How To Plan A Customs Compliance Program

The following is excerpted from the 14 December 2011 edition of CBC News. China has imposed duties on imports of some U.S.-made vehicles, claiming damage from foreign automakers due to dumping and subsidies in the latest round of trade friction between the two countries. The Commerce Ministry said Wednesday that the duties would be imposed for two years on imported cars and sport utility vehicles with engine displacements of over 2.5 litres. The duties range from two per cent to 21.5 per cent... This article is available in its entirety at:

The following is excerpted from the 15 December 2011 edition of CBC News. Canada and the U.S. have been negotiating to do away with some small border crossings and merge others as part of the far-reaching perimeter security deal recently announced between the two countries. A leaked internal presentation of the bi-national Small Port Working Group reveals details of the negotiations over the fate of so-called "small ports of entry," rural or small-town crossings stretching from St. Stephen, N.B., to Chopaka, B.C...

The following is excerpted from a 14 December 2011 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 Chen Deming, China’s Minister of Commerce, met on the margins of the Eighth World Trade Organization Ministerial Meeting in Geneva to build on their recent previous bilateral discussions in Beijing in October and Honolulu in November... This release is available in its entirety at:

The following is excerpted from a 14 December 2011 release by Statistics Canada.

The following is excerpted from a 13 December 2011 news release by Department of Finance Canada. The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Canada’s Minister of Finance, met with Mexico’s President, Felipe Calderón, Finance Minister, José Antonio Meade, and Central Bank Governor, Agustín Carstens, in Mexico City, where they discussed G-20 priorities for 2012... This release is available in its entirety at: http://www.fin.gc.ca/n11/11-133-eng.asp

The following is excerpted from a 13 December 2011 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 wrapped up a trade visit to Paris, where he promoted Canadian technology and emphasized how more collaboration between Canada and France in the areas of trade, innovation and science and technology (S&T) will help deepen the prosperity of workers in both countries... This release is available in its entirety at:

E668, Cross-Border Currency or Monetary Instruments Report Made by Person in Charge of Conveyance has been updated and is available on the CBSA website at: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/e668.pdf __________________________________________________

Minutes of the Windsor Brokers' meeting held on 29 November 2011 are now available on the Ontario Region page of the CSCB members site. To access, please go to our website at www.cscb.ca, login, and look under “Regional Activity”. __________________________________________________

Canadian Food Inspection Agency The Import Control Division will be closed: Christmas - Friday 23, December 2011 (4:00 PM ET) to Wednesday 28, December 2011 (8:00 AM ET). New Years - Monday 2, January 2012 (8:00 AM ET) to Tuesday 3, January 2012 at (8:00 AM ET). Please note: Ottawa Meat Import Control Centre (1-877-682-5191): Christmas/New Years - Opened - Saturday, 24 December 2011 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM (ET). Closed - Sunday, 25 December 2011.

The following is excerpted from the 14 December 2011 edition of Reuters Canada. Canada's dollar fell to a two-week low against the greenback and the 30-year bond yield touched a record trough on Wednesday as investors worried about Italy's borrowing costs and the Federal Reserve failed to announce new stimulus measures to offset the effects of Europe's debt crisis. The currency fell as low as C$1.0384 against its U.S. counterpart, or 96.30 U.S. cents, its weakest since November 28, as the euro slid to an 11-month low against the greenback...

The following is excerpted from the 13 December 2011 edition of The Globe and Mail. The Canadian government is considering the extraordinary step of using an act of Parliament to shield the new Windsor-Detroit bridge project from lawsuits launched by owners of an existing crossing. Canada and the United States last week signalled a new era of co-operation on their joint border with a deal on perimeter security, but the agreement unveiled was light on details of how much new crossing infrastructure would be built to expedite two-way trade...

The following is now available on the CBSA Web site: Memorandum D10-14-60, Tariff Classification of Textile Shells Used in the Manufacture or Articles of Subheading 9404.90 http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d10/d10-14-60-eng.html __________________________________________________