Trade News

The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today released The Fiscal Monitor for February 2012. Highlights February 2012: budgetary surplus of $1.5 billion There was a budgetary surplus of $1.5 billion in February 2012, compared to a deficit of $0.6 billion in February 2011. The entire document is available here: http://www.fin.gc.ca/n12/12-051-eng.asp _________________________________________________

The following is excerpted from the 27 April 2012 edition of CBC News. The Canadian dollar climbed above the $1.02 US level for the first time in seven months on Friday as the currency continued to rally following the Bank of Canada's recent shift to a more hawkish tone and U.S. GDP figures disappointed the markets. The loonie traded as high as $1.0204 before easing back to close at $1.0194, a gain of 3/10ths of a cent from Thursday's close. This article is available in its entirety at:

Chapter 12 was published to streamline the import conditions for the following HS codes. 12.11.90.3034 - Mint - with or without roots (fresh or chilled) 12.11.90.3035 - Basil - with or without root (fresh or chilled) 12.11.90.3036 - Rosemary - with or without roots (fresh or chilled) 12.11.90.3037 - Sage - with or without roots (fresh or chilled) Please check your version number before submitting through EDI. If you have any questions, please contact your Import Service Centre.

The following meat hygiene directives are now available in HTML and PDF versions at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/eng/1331922875874/1331923733369 MHD 2012-20 Chapter 11 - Section 11.7.3 - Malaysia MHD 2012-17 Chapter 11 - Section 11.7.3 – Korea (Republic of) The PDF version of directives should be used for maintaining print copies of the meat hygiene manual of procedures. _________________________________________________

The following is excerpted from a 26 April 2012 news release by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz completed a successful trade mission to Morocco in which he discussed the mutual benefits of a Canada-Morocco free trade agreement (FTA), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on agricultural co-operation and promoted Canada as a leading supplier of high-quality durum wheat, pulses and dairy genetics.

The following is excerpted from the 27 April 2012 edition of The Globe and Mail. Negotiations on the free-trade agreement between Canada and the European Union – the largest market in the world – are expected to conclude this year. This is vital, as Canada’s trade policy agenda has largely been stalled for a generation.

Beginning in May 2012 FedEx will introduce a new method for receiving FedEx Ground clearance documents for submission to the Canada Border Services Agency. This will allow customs brokers to expedite the clearance of FedEx Ground shipments for our mutual customers. Additional details are available here. _________________________________________________

Decision issued Wednesday, April 11, 2012 Reasons issued Friday, April 13, 2012 IN THE MATTER OF an appeal heard on December 13, 2011, pursuant to subsection 67(1) of the Customs Act, R.S.C. 1985 (2d Supp.), c. 1; AND IN THE MATTER OF a decision of the President of the Canada Border Services Agency, dated May 12, 2011, with respect to a request for re-determination pursuant to subsection 60(4) of the Customs Act. BETWEEN HBC IMPORTS C/O ZELLERS INC. Appellant AND

The following has been updated and is now available on the CBSA Web site: Memorandum D9-1-9, False Description of Geographical Origin of Goods and Goods With Trade Marks - Tariff Item No. 9897.00.00 http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d9/d9-1-9-eng.html _________________________________________________

The following is excerpted from a 26 April 2012 news release by the Department of Finance Canada. The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today introduced the Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act. The Act proposes to legislate key elements of Economic Action Plan 2012, as well as other previously announced measures.

The following is excerpted from a 27 April 2012 news release by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today told the Economic Club of Canada that an ambitious Canada-EU trade agreement will be the cornerstone of the Harper government’s ambitious pro-trade plan, and that benefits will be generated for hard-working Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

Members may be interested in this notice from CFIA regarding facilities designated for the Inspection of Meat Products from the US. _________________________________________________

Members may be interested in the following notice from CFIA. As part of the process to develop an Alternative Service Delivery Policy, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is consulting with stakeholders. This will begin on April 25, 2012 and will be open for 60 days. The consultation will end on June 24, 2012.

The following is excerpted from a 25 April 2012 press release by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal today initiated an expiry review of its orders made on January 9, 2008, in Expiry Review No. RR-2007-001, concerning the dumping of hot-rolled carbon steel plate from China. This release is available in its entirety at: http://www.citt.gc.ca/press/rr2m001_e.asp _________________________________________________

The following information regarding the 2012 Budget and its affect on the CFIA has been posted on CFIA’s website. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will consolidate a number of offices and divest three inspection stations to optimize the use of its office space and increase administrative efficiency.

The Notice of Expiry of Order is available at: http://www.citt.gc.ca/dumping/reviews/notices/rr2m001_e.asp _________________________________________________

Starting Date Case No. Product 2012-04-23 NQ-2011-002 Stainless Steel Sinks 2012-10-15 RR-2011-002 Bicycles 2012-11-19 RR-2012-001 Hot-rolled Carbon Steel Plate _________________________________________________

The following is from the 25 April 2012 edition of the Journal of Commerce. Global markets calm after mad cow diagnosis Major beef markets around the globe remain open to U.S. imports a day after the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the nation’s fourth case of mad cow disease. Government officials in Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Canada, Taiwan and the European Union all released statements saying they would not ban U.S. beef based on the diagnosis of a dairy cow in California’s Central Valley.

The following is from the 25 April 2012 edition of American Shipper. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released its Global Engagement Report, detailing the many activities and strategies the agency is currently using to transform itself from a domestic to a global public health agency. Specifically, the report describes steps FDA is taking to ensure that imports of food, drugs, medical devices, and other regulated products meet the same rigorous standards for safety and quality as those manufactured domestically.

Softwood Lumber interim quota allocations for MAY 2012 are now available in EICS. Please be advised that the volume available currently represents 80% of the actual MAY allocation. _________________________________________________