GHY Tradelines

(Maclean’s/CPAC)

This Thursday, January 20, CPAC and Maclean’s host a LIVE two-hour debate from the Newseum in Washington, D.C., on the state of Canada-U.S. relations. Canada-U.S.: Best Friends or Perfect Strangers? is the fifth town hall discussion in the CPAC-Maclean’s “In Conversation” series.

Moderated by CPAC host Peter Van Dusen, the panel includes Maclean’s columnists Andrew Coyne, Paul Wells, and guests Gary Doer, Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, Senator Pamela Wallin, David Frum, a former speechwriter for George W. Bush and Editor of FrumForum.com, Maryscott Greenwood, Senior Managing Director at McKenna, Long & Aldridge, and Christopher Sands, a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute.

Panelists will square off on everything from border security and trade issues, to climate change, the economy and more.

What: In Conversation with Maclean’s

Canada-U.S.: Best Friends or Perfect Strangers?
Where: The Newseum in Washington, D.C.
555 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
When: Thursday, January 20

Airing live on CPAC 7 pm ET / 4 pm PT

Also airing LIVE in the U.S. on C-SPAN2, and repeating on C-SPAN1 Saturday, January 22 at 4 pm ET / 1 pm PT.

For complimentary tickets, go here and/or visit http://www.cpac.ca to send your written comments and video submissions for the panel.

Memorandum D19-7-2: Requirements Concerning the Importation and Exportation of Ozone-depleting Substances and Products

1. Memorandum D19-7-2 has been updated and replaces the previous Memorandum D19-7-2, dated February 10, 2010.

2. Main revisions to this memorandum include additional information on controlling HCFCs, specifically HCFC-22, HCFC-141b and HCFC-142b, and reflect organizational changes within Environment Canada and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Appendices C and D have also been updated to reflect the actual list of countries that are a Party to the Montreal Protocol and the list of developing countries for the export of controlled products that contain or are designed to contain an ozone-depleting substance. Memorandum D19-7-2 reflects amendments to the Ozone-depleting Substances Regulations, 1998, and outlines procedures for the importation and exportation of ozone-depleting substances.

3. The Ozone-depleting Substances Regulations, 1998 reflect Canada’s commitment to meet its requirements under the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol). The Montreal Protocol is an international agreement signed by 196 countries to control the production and consumption of certain ozone-depleting substances. The Regulations are intended to further reduce emissions of ozone-depleting substances by controlling the import and export of ozone-depleting substances, products containing ozone-depleting substances and products designed to contain ozone-depleting substances.

Source: http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d19/d19-7-2-eng.pdf

Memorandum D7-4-2: Duty Drawback Program

1. This In Brief page has been revised to denote changes made as a result of the Government of Canada’s Paperwork Burden Reduction Initiative. The revisions are aimed at eliminating obsolete and duplicated requirements. This revision replaces Memorandum D7-4-2 dated January 31, 1996.

2. In accordance with the above, the following changes were made:
a. All information regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement can be found by referencing D7-4-3, NAFTA Requirements for Drawback and Duty Deferral.
b. All links to forms and reference material, including the Goods Imported and Exported Refund and Drawback Regulations, are located under the heading Additional Information of this memorandum.

Source: target="_blank">http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d7/d7-4-2-eng.pdf

Memorandum D7-4-1: Duties Relief Program

1. This In Brief page has been revised to denote changes made as a result of the Government of Canada’s Paperwork Burden Reduction Initiative. The revisions are aimed at eliminating obsolete and duplicated requirements. This revision replaces Memorandum D7-4-1 dated January 31, 1996.

2. In accordance with the above, the following changes were made:
a. All information regarding customs bonded warehouse can be found by referencing D7-4-4, Customs Bonded Warehouses.
b. All information regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement can be found by referencing D7-4-3, NAFTA Requirements for Drawback and Duty Deferral.
c. All links to forms and reference material, including the Duties Relief Regulations are located in the Additional Information section of this memorandum.

Source: http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d7/d7-4-1-eng.pdf

(WTO)

For the first time in over 13 years of talks, WTO intellectual property negotiators have started work on producing a single draft text for setting up a multilateral geographical indications register for wines and spirits. A draft on notification – the first of six broad topics of the system to be discussed – was circulated by chairperson Darlington Mwape at an informal meeting of the full membership on 13 January 2011.

The draft was developed in two days of consultations among representatives of the three groups that have submitted proposals in these negotiations. The 13 January meeting was an opportunity for the full membership to look at it.

The draft is about a page and a half long with numerous square brackets around text to indicate that the wording has not been agreed and that several options are presented to reflect the different approaches of the three proposals. Read more here.

(Bulk Transporter)

A new Obama Administration proposal to allow Mexican trucks to operate throughout the United States drew a lukewarm response from many in the trucking industry. A concept document outlining a framework for the new program was released January 6.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the document will serve as a starting point to renew the cross-border program for Mexican truckers that was canceled in March 2009. Negotiations with the Mexico government are still to come, and no target date for implementation has been suggested at this point.

The initial cross-border trucking program was launched in 2007 by the Bush Administration to comply with requirements under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Under that pilot program, Mexican carriers had to register their vehicles with the U.S. government and up to 100 Mexican fleets could operate at any given time inside the United States. Mexico’s government reciprocated by allowing a small number of U.S. carriers to operate inside Mexico. Read more here.

(CanadaExport)

Once known as the land of maple syrup, Canada has carved out a reputation for unique, high-quality food products such as salmon, durum wheat, soy and icewine. It’s a reputation that many Canadian agri-food exporters are capitalizing on through the support of the Canada Brand initiative for food and agriculture.

Developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in cooperation with industry and government partners, the program leverages Canada’s global profile to increase the sales of Canadian food and agriculture products. The Canada brand consists of a visual identity and the “Quality is in our nature” tagline, along with a fully articulated brand that is based on international market research. Program members have access to buyer and consumer research, branding tools and templates, a professional photo bank and more.

If your international agri-food marketing consists of promoting your brand name and logo in target markets, consider this: a brand is much more than a visual identity or a catchy slogan. It’s an experience – the sum total of consumers’ perceptions, values and feelings about a product.

Here’s how to make the most of the Canada brand to maximize your agri-food export success:

1. Align your brand with the Canada brand: Has your company evaluated and articulated your brand? Create a list of the words you and your customers attach to your brand. How do they align with the attributes the Canada brand represents, including commitment, quality and excellence, customer focus, nature and trustworthiness? Find the links. Write them down.

2. Develop a branding blueprint for your organization: The Canada brand website offers free membership in the program. By joining, you get access to the research, tools and support you need to develop your branding blueprint – your international sales and marketing roadmap. In it, you will identify your target markets, your customers’ needs and expectations, your competition and your brand promise – your commitment to customers.

3. Seek buy-in at all levels of your company: For a brand to fully take hold in a company and gain momentum, you need buy-in from the front lines all the way up to senior management. Use your branding blueprint as the basis for discussions. Get feedback and build it into your blueprint.

4. Integrate your brand into your business and communications plans: Now that you’ve wrapped your brand in the maple leaf, build your branding “to do list” into your business plan. Establish timelines for making improvements to your company’s systems and infrastructure, and for developing the sales and marketing tools you need to support your brand. Adjust your communications plan by aligning brand messaging and creative tactics.

5. Cultivate your brand internally: From your call centre staff to your sales team, and all the way up to your CEO, everyone within your organization is a brand ambassador. Educate them about the brand, communicate your efforts, offer training and support. Cultivating the brand within your organization is an ongoing process. It’s also your most direct route to success.

6. Communicate your brand: Develop your messaging and visual communications in line with the unique needs of each of your target markets. Integrate the Canada brand maple leaf and tagline into your company’s visual identity and packaging. Seek opportunities to get your message out at every customer touchpoint.

7. Live your brand: Branding is a team effort. Everyone within your company must strive to represent your brand. Living the brand means demonstrating commitment to your brand’s attributes, product quality, customer care and continuous improvement.

Finally, remember that your brand is a living entity. It will grow and evolve over time. Evaluate your branding efforts every six to 12 months. Gauge how customers are responding and adjust your approach based on their perceptions, needs and wants.

For more information, visit the Canada brand website Canada Brand website or contact Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Canada brand team at brandcanada@agr.gc.ca. And don’t forget to connect with the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service for advice on your market entry strategy, to access market intelligence and to take advantage of on-the-ground support in your target market(s).

(Edmonton Journal – Peter O’Neil, Postmedia News)

Canada’s ability to boost its economy with an “ambitious” free-trade agreement with Europe is being stymied due to disagreements on the extent to which governments should open up procurement contracts to foreign bidders, says a business lobby group.

Differences between foot-dragging Ontario and Quebec against the more aggressive West are expected to be aired behind closed doors in Brussels next week as about 100 federal and provincial negotiators cross swords with their European Union counterparts.

Outside those doors, negotiators will have to contend with demonstrations by Canadian and European groups that argue the deal is a threat to the environment and will limit the ability of governments to use tax dollars to create local jobs. Read more here.

(Cargonews Asia)

Unionised workers at Canada’s two largest railways voted to strike if labour contract talks fail, reported Dow Jones Newswires.

The Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union said clerical, intermodal workers and shopcraft workers at Canadian National Railway (CN) voted overwhelmingly to strike. The strike deadline is midnight January 25. The CAW represents 3,400 CN clerical, intermodal and shopcraft employees and 575 owner-operators that work for CN’s trucking subsidiary, CNTL. The four groups are covered by three collective agreements with the union, CN said. Read more here.