Trade News

Members may be interested in this CBC special report on changes to the border, after 9/11, available at: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/features/911/border-stories/index.html

The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 3/4 per cent.

The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) (La Francophonie), today addressed participants at Forum Africa 2011 in Montreal to highlight the importance of developing strong commercial relations between Canada and African countries, as well as within La Francophonie...

The CSCB has been approached by a company who is working with CBSA and Transport Canada and who have designed a workshop to make information regarding the importation of vehicles more accessible to the Canadian public. They have asked that we distribute information to members who may be interested in holding these workshops.

The following article refers to a What Was Heard Report. The CSCB's submission is available in the advocacy section of the website; login is required.

Members are advised, the following CFIA directives have been revised: Directive D-08-04 "Plant Protection Import Requirements for Plants and Plant Parts for Planting: Preventing the Entry and Spread of Regulated Plant Pests Associated with the Plants for Planting Pathway"

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is joining with the International Bridge Administration and GSA to announce that work to widen the pavement between the south end of the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge and the CBP primary inspection booths has been completed. Further details are available on the CBP website at: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/09022011_5.xml

Customs has a storage problem, and how it is adapting will dramatically affect importers who file paper entries. The change involves Customs’ elimination of paper-based courtesy notices of liquidation (CBP Form 4333-A), as announced in the Aug. 17 Federal Register. The notices, which Customs says cost $3 million-plus a year to print and mail, advise importers when individual entries are liquidated or finalized.

The WTO Appellate Body issued its report on 5 September 2011 in the case “United States — Measures Affecting Imports of Certain Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tyres from China” (dispute document WT/DS399/AB/R). Details are available on the WTO website at: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news11_e/399abr_e.htm

The WTO issued on 2 September 2011 the report of the panel that had examined a complaint by Indonesia about a US ban on clove cigarettes (dispute number DS406). Details are available on the WTO website at: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news11_e/406r_e.htm.

The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, ... announced the designation of Sunwing Airlines to operate scheduled international air services between Canada and Aruba, and Canada and the Bahamas, providing travellers with direct flight choices between Canada and these two Caribbean markets. This article is available in its entirety on the Transport Canada website at: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/mediaroom/releases-2011-h081e.htm.

The Department of Finance announced today that Canada’s official international reserves increased by an amount equivalent to US$1,255 million during August to US$64,493 million. Details on the level and composition of Canada’s reserves as of August 31, 2011, as well as the major factors underlying the change in reserves, are available at: http://www.fin.gc.ca/n11/11-074-eng.asp

This memorandum replaces Memorandum D4-1-4 dated August 8, 2008. The following changes were made: Customs Sufferance Warehouse Regulations were removed. Consult the Department of Justice Web site. A new process is indicated to advertise BW type sufferance warehouses (SW). Additional section on geographic and minimum volume thresholds for the opening and closing of sufferance warehouses. Additional section on access restrictions to sufferance warehouses. This Memo is available on the CBSA website at:

6 September 2011 Two weeks remaining! There are two weeks remaining until the 2011 CSCB Annual Conference. If you are planning to attend and have not already registered, there’s no time like the present. Register today! If you have registered, see you soon!

Members may be interested in the following, published on 3 September 2011 in Part I of the Canada Gazette. 1. Appeal to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, under the Customs Act, Appeal No.: AP-2009-014. Goods in issue: Anna Desgagnés ship. http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2011/2011-09-03/html/commis-eng.html#… 2. Department of the Environment and Department of Health, under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

2 September 2011 More transparency about border talks would help, says U.S. envoy The following is excerpted from the 2 September 2011 editorial in The Star, regarding the government report that summarized public consultations on the “Beyond the Border” initiative, released last week. More transparency about Canada-U.S. talks aimed at boosting continental security and easing cross-border travel and trade would address Canadian concerns about the process and enhance public understanding, Washington’s ambassador says.

Monday September 5th is a statutory holiday, and the Bureau's offices will be closed (no officers or Help Desk staff will be available). The EICS and EXCOL systems will be available during normal hours.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is reminding travelers who are planning trips across the border into the United States to make sure they have proper documents and to anticipate heavy traffic during the celebration of the Labor Day holiday.

Chapter 23 was published to add the following OGD extensions for livestock feed. 23.02.10.6100 - Maize ears ground 23.02.10.6101 - Maize grits by-product

CP's line at Central Bridge, NY was restored to service overnight Wednesday as planned and operations have resumed through the area. Passenger service has also returned to normal.