Trade News

Members are reminded that enrolment for the 2010-11 CCS (Certified Customs Specialist) course closes this Friday, December 17! All enrolment forms and payment must be submitted by the end of day Friday. Enrol now! Questions concerning the CCS course can be sent to the CSCB at [email protected].

The following is a 15 December 2010 news release by Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. Appropriation Bill for the fall Supplementary Estimates (C-58) becomes law without amendments.

The following is from the 16 December 2010 edition of "globeandmail.com". Americans' stronger appetite for imported goods helped to lift the broadest measure of the U.S. trade deficit in the July-September quarter to its highest point since late 2008.

The CSCB Toronto Region is offering a seminar entitled "Trouble Shoot The Blanket Adjustment Process" on January 26, 2011, between 3:00 and 6:00 pm. The seminar will take place at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, 6257 Airport Road in Mississauga. Members with questions about seminar content can email Ken Tracy at [email protected] or call him at 416-593-1380.

The following is from the 16 December 2010 edition of "Reuters Canada". Canada's dollar traded flat on Thursday morning, largely in line with global equity markets, as investors took pause after coming within a tick of parity with the U.S. currency the day before. European shares shed early gains and peripheral euro zone bonds dipped on Thursday after Spain paid a high premium at a debt auction, while U.S. stock index futures signaled a weaker open.

The following is a 15 December 2010 news release by Health Canada. Today, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, federal Minister of Health, is pleased to announce that the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA), has received Royal Assent, and is now Canadian law. "I am delighted our Government's Consumer Product Safety Act is now the law of the land," said Minister Aglukkaq. "This will give the Harper Government important new tools to deliver stronger, more effective protection for Canadian consumers and their families."

An export charge is levied under the Softwood Lumber Products Export Charge Act, 2006 (Act) on certain softwood lumber products exported to the United States.

1. This memorandum has been revised to include the following paragraphs for further clarification: Transfer of CSA Authorization Empty Containers 2. This memorandum has been revised to include additional clarification in the following paragraphs:

The following is a 15 December 2010 news release by the Department of Finance. The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today announced that Bill S-3, the legislation to implement tax treaties signed with Colombia, Greece and Turkey, has received Royal Assent. As such, Canada is now in a position to notify each of those countries of the completion of the procedures required to bring the relevant tax treaty into force in Canada.

The following is a 15 December 2010 news release by the Department of Finance. The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today welcomed the support of the Senate and the House of Commons for the passage of Bill C-47, Sustaining Canada’s Economic Recovery Act, legislation that will help contribute to the recovery and sustain Canada’s economic advantage now and for the future. The bill received Royal Assent today, allowing for the implementation of certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 4, 2010.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) offers the following tips to assist with your travel to and from Canada during the holiday season. - All adults and children who are travelling must have proper identification. It is important to keep in mind that the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is now in effect, requiring that all travellers to the United States present a valid passport or other approved secure document. - Know your personal exemptions, including those for alcohol and tobacco.

The following is a CBSA message (EDI10-112). This is a reminder to clients on the two port processing policy for Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) release requests. When a PARS shipment arrives at a CBSA office that is different than the intended customs office of release, CBSA will update the system by adjusting the office of release. In effect, if a broker transmits an EDI request to office “A” and the driver diverts to office “B”, the CBSA officer will update the system, changing the release office code from A to B, and process the release.

The following is from the 15 December 2010 edition of "montrealgazette.com". While saying he has not reached a border-security agreement with the United States, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said yesterday that his government is intent on bolstering "safety" measures and "economic access" to the U.S. Harper has come under fire in the House of Commons for secretly negotiating a "security perimeter" deal that could affect the privacy rights of Canadians.

The following is from the 15 December 2010 edition of "ottawacitizen.com". After slowing to a crawl, Canada's economy is expected to get back on track in 2011 on expectations for sustained domestic growth and an improved outlook for the United States, according to reports Wednesday by two of Canada's major banks.

The following is a 15 December 2010 News Release by DFAIT. The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade, met with Karel De Gucht, the European Union Trade Commissioner, in Ottawa today to take stock of progress toward a Canada-European Union trade agreement. Minister Van Loan and Commissioner De Gucht declared that significant progress had been achieved, and negotiations will continue. Both sides confirmed that negotiations are progressing ahead of expectations.

The following is a 10 December 2010 news release by CBP.gov. As part of an ongoing effort to work more closely with the trade community, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin held a series of roundtable discussions with trade representatives on Dec. 6 at the agency’s Washington, D.C. headquarters.

Appeal No. Appeal Name Act AP-2008-012R P.L. Light Systems Canada Inc. Customs Act AP-2009-004 Wolseley Canada Inc. Customs Act AP-2009-045 Sher-Wood Hockey Inc. Customs Act AP-2009-072 Rona Corporation Inc. Customs Act AP-2009-073 Ingram Micro Inc. Customs Act

This report was released by the The Conference Board of Canada. The report offers a detailed five-year forecast of Canada’s Wood Products Industry. Document Highlights:

The following is a 13 December 2010 news release by Transport Canada. Today the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, met with Michigan Governor-elect Rick Snyder in Lansing to reaffirm the Government of Canada's commitment to build the new Windsor-Detroit border crossing.

The following is from the 14 December 2010 edition of the "American Shipper". A World Trade Organization dispute settlement panel on Monday sided with the United States in a dispute brought by China challenging additional duties imposed on Chinese tires imports under the transitional safeguard mechanism included in China’s Protocol of Accession to the WTO. The panel rejected all of China’s claims, finding the United States acted consistently with its WTO obligations.