Trade News

The following is excerpted from the 30 November 2010 edition of “montrealgazette.com”. 82 counterfeit-goods websites closed Court-ordered domain seizures target mostly online retailers based in China United States authorities announced yesterday the shutdown of 82 websites selling mostly Chinese-made counterfeit goods, including golf clubs, Walt Disney movies, handbags and other items.

The following is a 30 November 2010 news release by Reuters Canada. Canada's economy disappointed in the third quarter with the weakest growth rate in a year, while the economy shrank outright in September, adding pressure on policy makers to safeguard the patchy recovery. Gross domestic product growth slowed to a 1.0 percent annual rate in the July-September period because of declining exports and a housing downturn, Statistics Canada said on Tuesday.

The following is from the 29 November 2010 edition of Canadian Transportation and Logistics ”ctl.ca”. Vancouver container haulers are once again growing ornery over alleged rate slashing and restrictions they say are affecting their livelihoods. On Nov. 27, about 400 truckers protested in Delta, according to local media. The protest was organized by the Vancouver Container Truckers' Association.

The following is from the 29 November 2010 edition of Canadian Transportation and Logistics ”ctl.ca”. Truckers using the Saint John Harbour Bridge will no longer have to reach into their pockets, after the feds downloaded ownership of the bridge to the province and made them remove the tolls as a condition of the transfer. The deal also provides funding for refurbishing while forgiving the bridge authority's outstanding federal debt.

Notice of Re-investigation 4214-24 AD/1383 The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has today initiated a re-investigation, in accordance with the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA), of the normal values and export prices of certain mattress innerspring units originating in or exported from the People's Republic of China. The subject goods are described as certain mattress innerspring units, with or without edgeguards, used in the manufacture of innerspring mattresses, originating in or exported from the People's Republic of China.

The CSBA has updated their website with Frequently Asked Questions regarding e-Manifest. The FAQs can be seen here: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/manif/faq-eng.html

The minutes of the Sarnia General meeting between CBSA and brokers that took place on 28 October 2010 are available on the Ontario Region page of the members site. To access, please login, click on the Regions tab, and then Ontario Region link.

Softwood Lumber Exports to the United States: 2011 Export Allocation Methodologies Serial No. 174 Date: November 29, 2010 This Notice to Exporters is to inform exporters of the Minister’s decision respecting the allocation methodology and provide the eligibility criteria for export allocations of certain Softwood Lumber Products first manufactured in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan and exported to the United States in 2011.

Effective December 1, 2010, CFIA will require imports of fresh fruits and vegetables to indicate either the Federal Produce Licence Number or the DRC Membership Number. As a result, CFIA has posted the following on their website: List of CFIA Licensees: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/frefra/qual/fruveglicsliste.sh…

Education Seminar in CSCB Toronto Region on NAFTA - Understanding HS Classification and NAFTA Rules The CSCB Toronto Region is offering a seminar entitled "NAFTA - Understanding HS Classification and NAFTA Rules" on December 9, 2010, between 3:00 and 6:00 pm. The seminar will be led by Paul Coulombe, Senior Trade Consultant, Russell A. Farrow Ltd. and will take place at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, 6257 Airport Road in Mississauga.

Members may be interested in the following determination published on November 27, 2010, in Part I of the Canada Gazette. 1. Under the Special Import Measures Act, a determination of evidence that disclosed a reasonable indication that the dumping and subsidizing of steel grating had caused injury. http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2010/2010-11-27/html/commis-eng.html#…

The following is from the 26 November 2010 edition of Canadian Transportation and Logistics ”ctl.ca”. Railway cargo traffic rose in September, on the strength of an increase in domestic loadings as well as more traffic received from American railways, according to a report from Statistics Canada. The culmination of these activities resulted in total rail traffic rising to 24.3 million metric tonnes in September, up 9.5% from September 2009.

The following is excerpted from a 29 November 2010 news release by Statistics Canada. Canada's overall current account deficit (on a seasonally adjusted basis) widened by $4.6 billion to reach a high of $17.5 billion in the third quarter. This marks the eighth quarterly deficit since the fourth quarter of 2008. Stronger imports of goods accounted for the bulk of the increase in the deficit in the third quarter, as exports of goods also weakened.

The following is excerpted from a 29 November 2010 news release by Statistics Canada. In October, the Industrial Product Price Index (IPPI) and the Raw Materials Price Index (RMPI) were up 0.5% and 1.7% respectively from September. Both indexes advanced mainly because of petroleum and metal products. The 0.5% increase in the IPPI in October follows advances of 0.4% in August and 0.3% in September. The IPPI has been on a moderate upward trend since November 2009.

The following is a 26 November 2010 news release by Department of Finance. The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today released The Fiscal Monitor for September 2010. Highlights September 2010: budgetary deficit of $3.9 billion There was a budgetary deficit of $3.9 billion in September 2010, compared to a deficit of $5.0 billion in September 2009.

Notice of Conclusion of Reinvestigation Dumping file #: 4214-21 Dumping case #: AD/1372 Subsidy file #: 4218-25 Subsidy case #: CV/121 The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has today concluded a re-investigation of the normal values, export prices and amounts of subsidy of certain thermoelectric coolers and warmers originating in or exported from the People's Republic of China, pursuant to the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA).

The following is a 25 November 2010 news release by DFAIT. The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada will host the North American Foreign Ministers Meeting on December 13, 2010, in Wakefield, Quebec.

The following is a 25 November 2010 news release by Industry Canada. The Harper government today introduced the Improving Trade Within Canada Act (ITCA) to implement enhancements to the resolution process for government-to-government disputes under the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT).

The following is excerpted from the 26 November 2010 edition of “globeandmail.com”. The Canadian dollar was sharply lower Friday as worries continued to grow over European debt, a pullback in commodities and tensions in Korea. The loonie was down 1.04 cents (U.S.) at 98 cents as other major currencies also moved lower against the greenback, traditionally seen as a safe haven currency in times of trouble.

The following is a 25 November 2010 news release by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed that the virus detected in a commercial poultry operation in the Rural Municipality of Rockwood, Manitoba is low pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza. Pathogenicity refers to the severity of the illness caused in birds.