Trade News

The following is a CBSA message (EDI10-090). Sunday, October 31st, 2010 Partial EDI Outage: For maintenance purposes, the following EDI applications will be unavailable from 4:30 to 10:00 Eastern Time (ET): Electronic Releases, RNS, ACI Marine, ACI Air, Rail, CSA and Highway Cargo. Please note that CADEX and CUSDEC B3 processing will not be affected by this outage. We regret the inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation.

Letter to the Editor: Ottawa Citizen; Vancouver Sun; National Post; The Province; Windsor Star concerning the Auditor General Annual Report, Chapter 8: Facilitating the Flow of Imported Commercial Goods Please allow me to provide some additional context to the points raised in your article regarding the Auditor General’s findings on “Facilitating the Flow of Imported Commercial Goods.”

The following is excerpted from the 27 October 2010 edition of "American Shipper". U.S. Customs and Border Protection has proposed changing regulations pertaining to the obligations of customs brokers to keep importers’ information confidential. The proposed amendment would allow brokers, upon the importer's consent in a written authorization, to share importer information with affiliated entities related to the broker so that these entities may offer non-customs business services to the broker's importer clients.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade’s website has been updated to provide information on the export of cryptography and information security. Cryptography controls are outlined on pages 30-31 in Category 5 - Part 2 ("Information Security") of Group 1 (the Dual-Use List) in the Export Control List, published in the Guide to Canada’s Export Controls.

a) Chapter 44 was published to add new OGD extensions. 44.20.10.0003 - Wooden components - with bark and/or not completely finished (e.g. not painted, not lacquered, etc.)and exceeding 1.5 cm in thickness 44.20.90.0003 - Wooden components - with bark and/or not completely finished (e.g. not painted, not lacquered, etc.)and exceeding 1.5 cm in thickness 44.21.90.0139.03 - Wooden components - with bark and/or not completely finished (e.g. not painted, not lacquered, etc.)and exceeding 1.5 cm in thickness

Members may be interested in the following amendment published on 27 October 2010 in Part II of the Canada Gazette. 1. Regulations Amending Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2010/2010-10-27/html/sor-dors215-eng…

The following article is from the website of the Canadian Autoworkers Union. As Canadian and European negotiators wrap up a fifth round of talks for a new ambitious and highly contentious free trade deal in Ottawa on October 22, over 400 protesters, including bus loads of CAW members, expressed their grave concerns over the deal during a noon-hour demonstration held in Ottawa.

a) Chapter 07 was published to add the conditions for container sizes for the following HS Code for the Continental United States. 07.05.11.3027 - Iceberg lettuce This created requirement version changes for the following HS Codes for the Continental United States. 07.05.19 - Lettuce: Other 07.05.21 - Chicory: Witloof (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum) 07.06.10.3018 - Baby carrots (fresh or chilled) 07.06.10.3019 - Turnips (fresh or chilled) 07.06.90.3021 - Horseradish (fresh or chilled)

The 2010 Fall Report of the Auditor General of Canada, Sheila Fraser, was tabled in the House of Commons Tuesday, 26 October 2010. This report includes nine chapters, one of which is entitled Facilitating the Flow of Imported Commercial Goods—Canada Border Services Agency. A short summary of each of these chapters is available here: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/mr_20100928_e_34197.html

CN 10-018: Update Regarding the Strengthening of the Canada Border Services Agency's Procedure Respecting the Importation of Goods Contaminated With Soil

The following meat hygiene directives are now available in HTML and PDF versions at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/meavia/man/direct/directe.shtml MHD 2010-35 Chapter 18 The PDF version of directives should be used for maintaining print copies of the meat hygiene manual of procedures.

The following is a 22 October 2010 news release by CBP.gov. US Customs and Border Protection will launch two pilots on November 1, 2010 to further strengthen the agency’s relationships with its trade and business partners. The Center of Excellence and Expertise (CEE) pilot will develop comprehensive strategies to facilitate trade and manage risk within the pharmaceutical industry. Anne Maricich, the Assistant Port Director for Trade at the Los Angeles International Airport, will direct the pilot center.

This is a reminder that a full database backup of the production database (PROD) is scheduled for Saturday November 6th, 2010 CFIA systems will be unavailable from 3am to 7am EST. Please note that full database backups of the production database (PROD) and normal maintenance services are scheduled for the first Saturday of every month between 3am and 7am EST.

Director-General Pascal Lamy, in a speech at the Third BDI (Federation of German Industries) Raw Materials Congress in Berlin on 26 October 2010, said that “carefully crafted cooperation on rules for resource trade is the only alternative to economic nationalism and conflict.” He added that “concluding the Doha Round will contribute to better harnessing trade in natural resources.” This is what he said: Professor Keitel, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Chapter 20 was published to change the release recommendation from "Refer to CFIA-ISC" to "Refer to CFIA-ISC - US Meat Shipments" for the following HS Code with the end use of "Other end uses" and the miscellaneous code of "Other than waiver" for the United States. 20.04.90.3001 - Vegetable preparations with more than 2% but less than 20 % meat - frozen This created a requirement version change for the same HS Code with the end use of "Cruise ships/direct supply". Please check your version number before submitting through EDI.

The CBSA is pleased to announce that the Agency has signed a working arrangement with Frontex, the European Union's border management coordination agency. The arrangement will promote cooperation between the two agencies on border security and management with a view to working towards a sustainable partnership. Through this arrangement, the CBSA and Frontex will cooperate in areas related to the exchange of best practices and strategic information, training, capacity-building, technology and participation in joint operations.

Enrolment for the 2010-11 CCS (Certified Customs Specialist) course closes Friday, October 29! 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 at: http://new.cscb.ca/CCS_Course