GHY Tradelines

span style=”font-size:85%;”(Video: WIVB TV-Buffalo • Story: Montreal Gazette)/spanbr /br /object width=”480″ height=”385″param name=”movie” value=”http://www.youtube.com/v/DkGKqz3oyzIhl=en_USfs=1″/paramparam name=”allowFullScreen” value=”true”/paramparam name=”allowscriptaccess” value=”always”/paramembed src=”http://www.youtube.com/v/DkGKqz3oyzIhl=en_USfs=1″ type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” allowscriptaccess=”always” allowfullscreen=”true” width=”480″ height=”385″/embed/objectbr /br /After nearly two years of being abused by the economy, can the Canadian consumer learn to love again?br /br /With the dollar flirting with parity, and e-commerce making discounts more accessible, analysts say the answer is a resounding “yes.”br /br /The real question is whether shoppers will commit to retailers at home or seek a cheap fling with their U.S neighbours.br /br /“Given the combination of the currency returning to par, and the fact that Canadian consumer confidence has bounced back miraculously in the last year, I think we’ll see a real upswing in cross-border shopping,” says Douglas Porter, deputy chief economist with BMO Capital Markets.br /br /“We’re already starting to see some response, both in the three-hour long lineups at the border this past weekend and in companies beginning to cut prices.” Read more a href=”http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/fp/Canadians+taking+advantage+level+loonie/2774410/story.html”here/a.

span style=”font-size:85%;”(Mike Levine — Fox News)/spanbr /br /The key administration officials recently installed by recess appointment can serve in their new jobs through the end of next year, but at least one of them says he plans to keep his job for much longer than that.br /br /Alan Bersin, who last year became the Obama administration’s point man on border security issues, is now the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, part of the Department of Homeland Security.br /br /“I look forward to a good and candid and fruitful series of exchanges over the next number of years,” Bersin told a group of reporters on Wednesday, in his first face-to-face with the press since becoming commissioner.br /br /Asked by Fox News whether that means he’s planning to be CBP commissioner beyond what the recess appointment allows, Bersin said: “Absolutely.”br /br /Such a move would require Senate confirmation, but Bersin said he hopes to prove himself to skeptical members of Congress in the months ahead. Read more a href=”http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/04/07/despite-path-customs-head-eyes-long-tenure/?test=latestnews”here/a.

span style=”font-size:85%;”(Lloyd’s List — Comment)br //spanbr /That somewhere around $5bn worth of cargo is stolen every year from the global supply chain is surprising in itself. It is perhaps even more surprising that this is not headline news; but beyond the dramatic stories of pirate attacks off the Horn of Africa, which are potent fuel to fire the imagination with, much freight theft is low-level and accumulative.br /br /For the general public, freight theft is essentially a victim-less crime and consequently does not register – although the viciousness of some of the attacks on lorry drivers taking their mandatory breaks on roadside rest stops are the equal of many a Somali pirate. However, while piracy at sea is principally an issue for shipowners, ship operators, and naval security services, the tightening of supply chain security places far more responsibility onto cargo owners, who appear to approach the serious problems posed by freight crime with something of a cavalier attitude.br /br /Certainly, given the multiple concerns of, say, a high street retailer or global automotive manufacturer struggling to get his company through the recession, it is understandable that supply chain security might find itself slipping down the pecking order. That does not, however, mean that it is acceptable. Read more a href=”http://www.lloydslist.com/ll/blogs/get-serious-about-freight-theft/20001020021.htm;jsessionid=B611DCEF24030B81EC46AECDDD722148.065acf6a61c52eed94766d1ba7da5d95d4ecd58a”here/a.

span style=”font-size:85%;”(Export Development Canada – Peter G. Hall)/spanbr /br /Explosive growth became the norm for India in the global economy’s boom years, and few pundits disagree that long run growth potential is better here than anywhere else. India’s prowess was tested in the global recession, but the subcontinent has rebounded handily. Its sights are now trained on longer term growth in an ambitious new 5-year plan. Will India achieve its high-growth objectives?br /br /Worries escalated as India’s growth slowed substantially in late 2008, but they were short-lived. By the third quarter of 2009, growth was back to the 8% level. Growth slowed again in the dying months of 2009, but details show that strong underlying growth was hampered by temporary contractions in agricultural production and government spending. Why the resilience? India has below-average export exposure, and monetary policy was very responsive to the downturn. But the key reason is likely India’s pre-recession stimulus plan: its heavy ongoing investment in public infrastructure.br /br /Policymakers in India are keenly aware that poor infrastructure is a key growth inhibitor, and as a result, attention has been paid to infrastructure spending in most of the more recent 5-year plans. The current plan earmarked US $500 billion for various projects, from telecommunications to energy and transportation systems. India has been increasingly looking for private sector participation, with the targeted private component moving from 25% in the 10th plan to 36% in the current plan. Read more a href=”http://www.northernontariobusiness.com/columns/hall/India%E2%80%99s-infrastructure-plans–dreams-or-reality-.aspx”here/a.

span style=”font-size:85%;”(World Trade Interactive)/spanbr /br /The California State Assembly voted April 5 to require that all garments made with animal fur carry a label indicating the animal from which the fur was taken and the country of origin. If the measure (Assembly Bill 1656) is approved by the state Senate and signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, California will join Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Wisconsin on the list of states that have imposed such a requirement.br /br /The federal Fur Products Labeling Act requires all garments made entirely or partly with fur to include a label disclosing various information, including the name of the animal from which the fur was taken and the country of origin if the product was imported. However, this requirement is waived if the cost of the fur trim used on a garment, or the selling price of a fur product, is $150 or less. This exemption does not apply if the product contains dog or cat fur. Furthermore, the Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000 prohibits importing, exporting, selling, trading, advertising, transporting or distributing any products made with dog or cat fur.br /br /The sponsors of the California bill noted that the $150 loophole in federal law disadvantages consumers that are allergic to fur or object to wearing it on ethical grounds.

span style=”font-size:85%;”(Journal of Commerce Online – Thomas L. Gallagher)/spanbr /br /strongAir cargo group says restrictions on lithium batteries deviate from international standardsbr //strongbr /The International Air Cargo Association is calling for modifications to changes proposed by the U.S. government to the way lithium batteries are carried onboard aircraft, warning it will have a significant impact on not only the air cargo sector but also manufacturers, retailers and consumers of electronic products, medical devices, motor vehicles and many other products.br /br /A new ruling by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration proposes regulations that would require lithium batteries to be stowed in a crew-accessible location except if they are shipped in an FAA-approved container or a Class C cargo compartment. Read more a href=”http://www.joc.com/air-expedited/tiaca-seeks-review-hazmat-rule”here/a.

span style=”font-size:85%;”(FlexNews – Reuters)/spanbr /br /Federal inspectors are conducting fewer reviews of food manufacturing plants, with many facilities going more than five years without being checked, a government investigator said Wednesday. The drop in inspections could make an outbreak of foodborne disease more likely, putting the public at risk, according to a report from the Department of Health and Human Services’ inspector general. A shrinking workforce at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for much of the drop in the number of facilities inspected, including those deemed high risk by the agency, the report said.br /br /An estimated 76 million people in the United States get sick every year with foodborne illness and 5,000 die, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “This is unacceptable in our modern society and an important reminder that we must provide FDA with the needed tools,” said Senator Tom Harkin, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which unanimously passed a food safety bill in November.br /br /The measure awaits full approval from the Senate, which could take place soon after lawmakers return next week. A food safety bill passed in the House in July. Read more a href=”http://www.uspoliticsinfo.com/article/U.S.%20needs%20more%20FDA%20food%20inspections%3A%20govt%20report/?k=j83s12y12h94s27k02″here/a.

pspan style=”font-size:85%;”(CBSA)/spanbr /br /strong4214-27 AD/1386/strongbr /strongFaced Rigid Cellular Polyurethane-modified Polyisocyanurate Thermal Insulation Board Originating in or Exported from the United States of America/strongbr /br /On April 6, 2010, the President of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) made a final determination of dumping pursuant to paragraph 41(1)(a) of the emSpecial Import Measures /emAct (SIMA) in respect of faced rigid cellular polyurethane-modified polyisocyanurate thermal insulation board originating in or exported from the United States of America.br /br /The results of the investigation reveal that 97.8% of the goods exported to Canada during the period of investigation (POI) were dumped by a weighted average margin of approximately 21.9%, expressed as a percentage of export price.br /br /The goods in question are commonly classified under the Harmonized System classification number: strong3921.13.99.10br //strongbr /Note that this HS code is for convenience of reference only. Refer to the product definition for authoritative details regarding the subject goods.br /br /The Canadian International Trade Tribunal is continuing its inquiry into the question of injury to the domestic industry and will make an order or finding by May 6, 2010. Provisional duties will continue to apply until this date.br /br /Additional information about this investigation is contained in a Statement of Reasons, which will be available within 15 days on the a href=”http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/sima” target=”_blank”CBSA’s website/a./ppstrongContacts:/strongbr /Ron McTiernan 613-954-7271 • Wayne Tian 613-946-2574br /br /strongMargins of Dumping (as percentage of the export price):/strongbr /br /Atlas Roofing Corp 7.8%br /Carlisle Syntec Inc. 15.9%br /Construction Materials International, Inc. 0.0%br /Dow Chemical Company 0.0%br /Firestone Building Products Inc 15.9%br /Hunter Panels LLC 8.9%br /Johns Manville 23.8%br /All Other Exporters: 168.9%/p

span style=”font-size:85%;”(MSN – The Canadian Press)/spanbr /br /A global economic forecasting group says Canadian economic growth will blow away that of other G7 nations by a wide margin during the first half of 2010. The Paris-based Organization for Economic Development and Co-operation is forecasting that Canada’s economy grew 6.2% in the first quarter, well ahead of the 1.9% overall growth for the G7 nations.br /br /The OECD predicts that Canada’s second-quarter growth will be about 4.5%, nearly double the 2.3% growth expected from the combined G7.br /br /The latest outlook comes as Canadian economic data shows the country embarked upon an enthusiastic rebound at the start of the year. In January, Canada’s gross domestic product advanced 0.6%, driven by growth in activity in factories, at construction sites, in mines and in the oilpatch.br /br /However, economists have cautioned that Canada’s economic growth will likely slow down as the Bank of Canada is expected to raise interest rates this July, while consumers could decrease spending to pay off their debts. Read more a href=”http://news.ca.msn.com/money/article.aspx?cp-documentid=23814171″here/a.

span style=”font-size:85%;”(CSCB)/spanbr /br /Confidence among small and mid-sized business owners remains on the rise. CFIB’s Business Barometer Index rose for the third consecutive month in March, reaching 69.9 – its highest level in five years. This level of optimism is consistent with a healthy sustained economic growth rate of about 4%, which suggests Canada’s strong economic rebound to date will continue.br /br /The full report is available a href=”http://www.cfib-fcei.ca/cfib-documents/rr3110.pdf” target=”_blank”here/a.

span style=”font-size:85%;”(New York Times – Serwell Chan)br //spanbr /The United States and Brazil have reached an agreement aimed at settling a long-standing trade dispute over American subsidies to cotton growers, officials in both countries said Tuesday.br /br /The announcement came one day before Brazil was to begin imposing up to $830 million in sanctions with authorization from the World Trade Organization. The trade body had ruled last August that American subsidies to cotton growers had violated global trade rules.br /br /Under the preliminary deal, Brazil would hold off on retaliation in exchange for American concessions that include the modification of an export loan program and the establishment of a temporary assistance fund for the Brazilian cotton industry. The broader issues in contention would be deferred until Congress takes up the next farm bill, most likely in 2012.br /br /The Brazilian sanctions were to include $591 million in higher tariffs on a wide array of goods, including autos, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, electronics, textiles and wheat. Read more a href=”http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/business/07trade.html”here/a.

span style=”font-size:85%;”(CIFFA eBulletin – Alex Binkley, Canadian Sailings)/span br /br /The pace of the recovery has caught shipping lines with too much capacity in mothballs, and they may not even recover by the summer, Mr. Gobeil said. Canadian exporters and freight forwarders are fuming over a serious shortage of export container shipping capacity that’s threatening exports of machinery, agri-food products, minerals and lumber, he said. br /br /Read the full article a href=”http://www.canadiansailings.ca/Editorial/News/Sea/Sea13/tabid/335/Default.aspx” target=”_blank”here/a.