Trade News

Congratulations to the students who successfully completed the CCS (Certified Customs Specialist) course and are now entitled to use the CCS designation. The passing grade for the CCS course is 65%. The final grade is based on the results of the final examination plus the results of four tests taken throughout the year. The average grade this year was 71%, and the mark that occurred the most was 75%. The highest grade was 97%, with 1 student achieving this mark. The following students received the highest marks – well done!

The following is excerpted from a 24 November 2010 news release by Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. Today, the Government of Canada continued its action to ensure respect for taxpayers' dollars by strengthening the rules surrounding spending on travel, hospitality and conferences. The announcement was made in Ottawa by the Honourable Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)...

Officials scramble to set up private pat-down stalls The following is excerpted from the 25 November 2010 edition of “ottawacitizen.com”. Air passengers in Canada could soon confront armed airport border guards after having already cleared a full-body pat-down in a separate screening room. Federal authorities say they are considering arming the airport border guards who greet travellers arriving on international flights.

The following is a 24 November 2010 news release by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of an avian influenza virus in a commercial poultry operation in the Rural Municipality of Rockwood, Manitoba. Further testing is underway to determine the precise subtype and pathogenicity of the virus. Pathogenicity refers to the severity of the illness caused in birds. Clinical assessment and laboratory analysis to date suggests this is likely a low pathogenic virus.

CSCB members will be pleased to see a D Memorandum on the policy surrounding the Penalty Reinvestment Agreement (PRA). This agreement was formerly known as the Penalty Relief Agreement and later the Penalty Reduction Agreement; however, a D Memorandum or Customs Notice had never been issued explaining this Agreement.

The following is a CBSA message (EDI10-104). CADEX Outage: Please note that the CADEX system will be unavailable from 21:00 on Saturday, November 27th, 2010 to 05:15 on Sunday, November 28th, 2010 (Eastern Time). CADEX and CUSDEC B3s and AO release queries transmitted to the CADEX system will be affected by this outage. Electronic Releases, RNS, CSA, ACI Marine, ACI Air, ACI eManifest Highway as well as Rail and Highway Cargo will not be affected by this outage.

Minister Van Loan Urges Small and Medium-Sized Businesses to Take Advantage of Canada-EU Trade Agreement The following is a 24 November 2010 news release by DFAIT.

Minutes of the BC Region Executive meeting held on 4 November 2010 are now available on the British Columbia Region page of the CSCB members site. To access, please go to our website at cscb.ca, log in, click on the Regions tab, and then on the British Columbia Region link.

Although the CSCB has advised members of all phases of this initiative through daily email messages, CFIA has also provided all phases on their website at this URL: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/invenq/impnote.shtml This notice is to inform importers and brokers that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will be implementing phase 4 of the changes to import notification requirements for products in the non-federally registered food sector effective February 07, 2011.

Further to The following is excerpted from the 24 November 2010 edition of “montrealgazette.com”. Canada's privacy commissioner is studying the government's plan to give Canada Border Services Officers more power to strip search airport and port employees suspected of smuggling drugs, arguing it could impact workers' privacy.

The following is excerpted from a 24 November 2010 news release by Reuters Canada. The Canadian dollar rose against the U.S. currency on Wednesday morning, tracking overseas gains in equity markets and slightly firmer commodity prices. Prices in key resources such as crude oil and base metals advanced on supply concerns, offsetting a stronger U.S. dollar and rising risk aversion that reflected euro zone debt worries and fears of more clashes on the Korean Peninsula.

Members may be interested in the following orders, amendments, and regulations, published on 24 November 2010 in Part II of the Canada Gazette. 1. Under the Farm Products Agencies Act; Regulations Amending the Canadian Chicken Marketing Quota Regulations. http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2010/2010-11-24/html/sor-dors256-eng… 2. Under the Farm Products Agencies Act; Regulations Amending the Canadian Egg Marketing Agency Quota Regulations, 1986.

The following is excerpted from a 24 November 2010 news release by Statistics Canada. Operating profits for Canadian corporations amounted to $61.5 billion in the third quarter, virtually unchanged from the previous quarter. In the non-financial industries, profits increased by 0.8% to $46.7 billion, while profits in the financial industries declined by 3.7% to $14.8 billion.

Ministers of Justice, Public Safety and Health meet with U.S. Director of National Drug Control Policy The following is excerpted from the 23 November 2010 news release by National Anti-Drug Strategy.

Minister of Finance Announces Public Consultations on the Taxation of Corporate Groups The following is a 23 November 2010 news release by Department of Finance. The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today launched public consultations on the taxation of corporate groups to explore whether changes to the tax system can be made to improve its efficiency and to support economic growth.

The following is a CBSA message EDI10-103 (Update – on behalf of CFIA) Please be advised: The problem with slow CFIA decisions of EDI transactions is now RESOLVED.

CBSA officers to get new powers - Crackdown to target smuggling by staff at airports, ports The following is excerpted from the 23 November 2010 edition of “ottawacitizen.com”. Canada's border guards could soon get new powers to strip search employees in airports and ports across Canada in a bid to crack down on the smuggling of illegal drugs, such as marijuana, ecstasy and cocaine. CBSA officers also would be allowed to frisk employees and to use various types of scanners and detectors to examine goods in their possession.