Trade News

26 March 2008 Lead Sheets for Paper Release Requests CBSA has advised that if members have developed their own lead sheets to be used with paper release requests, they may continue to use these sheets. However, the list of exceptions should mirror the exceptions shown on the most recent lead sheet…

26 March 2008 Facilities Inspection amendment 25 Members are advised that Amendment no. 25 of the Facilities Inspection Manual, which amends Chapter 3, Subject 4, QMP Reference Standard, has been added to Merlin, at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/fispoi/manman/fimmii/chap3su4… The…

26 March 2008 Business `somewhat pleased' with breaks The following article is excerpted from the 26 March 2008 edition of the “Toronto Star”. Ailing manufacturers and other businesses that had lobbied for significant tax breaks in yesterday's provincial budget said they were "somewhat pleased" by…

26 March 2008 2010 Olympics – RFP: Customs Brokerage and Freight Forwarding Services The following message is from the BC Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games Secretariat. I wish to bring to your attention, and to the attention of your members, a recently released Request for Proposals (RFP) for…

26 March 2008 Effective Date of DR-CAFTA Amendments Expected to be Announced Soon The following article is extracted from the 26 March 2008 edition of “Word\Trade Interactive”. U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a memo to its field offices last week stating that modifications to the DR-CAFTA…

26 March 2008 Mexico makes plans for largest infrastructure project in nation`s history This article is excerpted from the 26 March 2008 edition of “Canadian Transportation & Logistics”. The Mexican government is making plans to construct a $4-billion seaport that could rival the ports of Los…

25 March 2008 CADEX and CUSDEC B3 system brought down Message EDI08-027 The following is a message to all Electronic Commerce Clients from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Due to system problems, the CADEX and CUSDEC B3 system has been brought down. Transactions due today but not accounted…

25 March 2008 CADEX and CUSDEC B3 system brought down Message EDI08-027 (Update) The following from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) updates their earlier message. Due to excessive volumes resulting from the long weekend , the CADEX and CUSDEC B3 system has been brought down. Transactions…

25 March 2008 Transport Canada Proposes Safety Regulations to Support the International Bridges and Tunnels Act The following news release was issued by Transport Canada on 20 March 2008. The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced proposed…

25 March 2008 Border bottlenecks hurting economy: Report This article is excerpted from the 23 March 2008 edition of the “Toronto Star”. The Brookings Institute Report, “The Vital Connection: Reclaiming Great lakes Economic Leadership in the Bi-National US-Canadian Region” is available on their web…

Reminder – First CCS Quiz Finishes on 31 March! CCS designates are reminded that the deadline for the first quiz of 2008 is on Monday, 31 March 2008 at 2:00 pm EDT. This is an excellent opportunity to gain ten (10) professional development points towards maintenance of your CCS designation in 2008…

25 March 2008 Is economy sliding into abyss? This article is excerpted from the 25 March 2008 edition of the “Toronto Star”. For months, Americans have been subjected to a sort of economic water torture – a maddening drip of bad news about jobs, gas prices, sagging home values, creeping inflation, a…

25 March 2008 China-U.S. Join Forces on Trade Security Pilot Program This news release was issued by US Customs and Border Protection on 24 March 2008. Cooperation between U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the General Administration of China Customs to enhance global supply chain security took…

25 March 2008 S. Korea's Lee backs free-trade pact with China, Japan This article is excerpted from the 24 March 2008 edition of “The Journal of Commerce”. South Korea's new president, Lee Myung-Bak, told reporters in Seoul Monday that he supports the idea of creating a vast new free-trade zone…

25 March 2008 Rising costs require change in China sourcing strategy, study says This article is excerpted from the 24 March 2008 edition of “American Shipper”. China is losing its edge as a pure low-cost manufacturing center, but multinational companies can still benefit by sourcing there if they…

25 March 2008 GAO urges HMT review This article is excerpted from the 24 March 2008 edition of “The Journal of Commerce”. Congress should review the link between collection and expenditure of the Harbor Maintenance Tax, and establish an HMT advisory committee, according to a new report by the…

25 March 2008 Doha deal 'within grasp' This article is excerpted from the 25 March 2008 edition of “The Journal of Commerce”. Negotiators at the World Trade Organization’s Doha Round of multilateral talks are close to reaching an agreement in principle on industrial tariffs, farm subsidies and…

20 March 2008 Exemption Regulations On March 19, 2008, the Exemption Regulations (Persons) were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II. The regulatory change addresses the EIPA requirements for firearms carried by certain Canadian and foreign officers who legally enter or exit Canada in the course…

20 March 2008 Tariff Notice TN-31 Message EDI08-026 Please be advised the changes outlined in Tariff Notice - TN-31 dated march 14, 2008 will be updated in the Customs Commercial System (CCS) on April 1, 2008. You can view the Tariff Notice TN-31 at the following site: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca…

20 March 2008 Updates to CFIA Meat Directives The following meat hygiene directives are now available in HTML and PDF versions at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/meavia/mmopmmhv/direct/direct… MHD 2008-1 Chapter 11 - European Union - Update to the certification required for bovine…