GHY Tradelines

(CFIA)

The following directives have been revised:

Risk Management Document RMD-10-27 “Pest Risk Management Document – Pseudomonas syringae pv. aesculi (horse chestnut bleeding disease) is now available on the Web here.

Directive D-96-12 “Greenhouse Certification Program for Export of Greenhouse-grown plants to the United States (U.S.)” has been revised and is available on the web here. This directive has been revised to update the review date, as well as minor administrative changes. The content of this directive has not changed.

Directive D-98-04 “Seed Potato Program – Certification of Garden Potato Varieties in Canada” has been revised and is available on the web here.  This directive has been revised to update the review date, as well as minor administrative changes. The content of this directive has not changed.

Directive D-01-01 “Phytosanitary Requirements to Prevent the Entry and Spread of Phytophthora ramorum” has been revised and is available on the web here. This directive has been revised to update the review date, as well as minor administrative changes. The content of this directive has not changed.

Directive D-07-02 “Canadian Debarking and Grub Hole Control Program (CDGHCP) for the export of Cedar Forest Products to the European Union” has been revised and is available on the web at here. Appendix 2, Certificate of Debarking and Grub Hole Control has been revised to ensure that the text of the Appendix is consistent with European import requirements. The Appendix has also been removed from the policy directive and has been placed as a sample on the Canadian Debarking and Grub Hole Control Program (CDGHCP) for the export of Cedar Forest Products to the European Union webpage. An interactive form should be obtained through a verification body.

Directive D-01-06 “Canadian Phytosanitary Policy for the Notification of Non-Compliance and Emergency Action” has been revised and is available on the web here. This directive was revised in order to more accurately interpret ISPM No. 13, in the Canadian context, as well as to reflect organizational changes in the agency.

(AFP – Roddy Thomson)

A top U.S. trade official said she will bang down the door of the European Commission Thursday in a bid to break a longstanding impasse blocking the march of genetically-modified foods.

“When Europeans come to the United States, they come and enjoy our cuisine with no concerns whatsoever,” Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Miriam Sapiro said ahead of talks with European Union trade commissioner Karel De Gucht’s senior officials.

“Why should we have different standards in Europe? We have very strict safety standards – as do you – and I think that alone is good reason to make sure that our products are able to be sold in Europe,” she insisted. “I will be raising that issue today – it is important to address, and to continue to press the commission to go the right way.

“Decisions on GM foods need to be science-based,” she stressed. Read more here.

(ICTSD)

Trade was an issue on which the Obama administration and Congressional Republicans were supposed to be able to cooperate. Instead, little over a month into the new Congress, a number of separate trade-related policies have become hostage to partisan gamesmanship and localised concerns.

The affected initiatives include two preferential market access schemes (one for Andean nations and one covering a much larger number of developing countries), a programme that helps U.S. workers hurt by trade, and unratified free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama.

The Generalised System of Preferences, through which the U.S. offered preferential duty-free entry to some 4800 products from 131 designated beneficiary countries, lapsed at the end of 2010, after the Senate failed to agree on legislation to extend it. Imports previously covered by the agreements have since 1 January been subject to standard import duties, apart from those covered by a separate preferential access arrangement for Africa. Read more here.

(Embassy – Lee Berthiaume)

EU economic deal prompts big war for influence between generic, brand-name pharma

As Canadian negotiators hammered away at a deal with the European Union last year, segments of the country’s agricultural and pharmaceutical industries were engaged in fierce behind-the-scenes lobbying efforts to get their positions included.

In fact, an Embassy analysis of lobbying records shows that when it came to lobbying on international trade issues in 2010, the country’s sharply-divided agricultural industry took the top prize, highlighting the growing importance the sector plays in trade policy.  Read more here.

(Health Canada)

This past year, in order to ensure that industry and consumers had a say in the Mandatory Reporting Policy for the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act , Health Canada solicited comments from interested Canadians.

We heard from consumers, multinational manufacturers, business associations and local retailers and distributors from right across the country. Their input is contributing to the development of guidance documents that will assist affected industry in complying with the new legislation.

A summary of feedback is available here.

(CTV News – The Canadian Press)

Canadian firms have been coping with the loonie’s rising value by shifting more of their production and sales offshore, according to a report issued Thursday.

Export Development Canada says sales from foreign affiliates of Canadian firms grew by more than twice the rate of domestically originated exports between the years 2000 and 2008. That’s a time when the loonie appreciated from the low 60-cent levels early in the decade to above parity with the U.S. currency during the 2008 commodity boom.

The EDC report says many Canadian firms responded by shifting capital offshore. The study shows that overseas investment assets by Canadian firms grew to nearly $650 billion during the period, up from about $356 billion earlier. Read more here.



(WBFO)

Plans to move the Peace Bridge American customs plaza over to the Canada side will not happen.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano declared it a “dead” deal. She responded to Western New York Congressman Brian Higgins Wednesday morning as he spoke at the House of House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee hearing.

Higgins noted that the as part of the Peace Bridge Expansion project, confusion exists as to whether the project could include pre-clearance of a shared border management strategy to locate the American customs plaza on the Canadian side of the Peace Bridge.

Napolitano said they can not resolve the pre-clearance issues in Canada. But she did note that if the Peace Bridge and facilities are expanded on the U.S. side, they are fully prepared to provide the staffing and support.

Click here for audio of the exchange between Higgins & Napolitano.

(eyefortransport)

According to new research from Parcelforce Worldwide, small businesses are unnecessarily ruling out overseas opportunities due to perceived market barriers and therefore limiting their international growth.

The Barriers To Export study reveals that almost half (43%) of non-exporters believe they could increase revenues by exporting in just twelve months. Of these businesses, 46% believe exports could boost revenues by more than 10% in the coming year.

Despite this growth potential, 84% of non-exporters have no plans to investigate foreign trade opportunities anytime soon, due to overblown concerns and perceived barriers. Read more here.

(World Trade Interactive)

The following trade-related rules were listed in the semiannual regulatory agenda recently issued by the Department of Transportation.

• DOT has delayed again but expects to publish soon a proposed rule amending the regulations that pertain to the importation by registered importers of motor vehicles that were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable federal motor vehicle safety, bumper and theft prevention standards. These amendments would (a) require applicants for RI status to disclose whether they have been convicted of a crime involving the importation or sale of a motor vehicle and permit DOT to automatically suspend the registration of any RI that has been so convicted, (b) require an RI to destroy or export nonconforming motor vehicle equipment removed from an imported vehicle that has undergone conformance modifications and to certify to DOT that those items have been exported or destroyed, and (c) reflect new requirements for the importation of a motor vehicle by an RI for the purpose of petitioning DOT to decide that the vehicle is eligible for importation. The rule would also adopt a more workable definition of the term “model year” for the purpose of making import eligibility decisions.

• A proposed rule slated to be published no later than this month would amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations requirements for the transportation of radioactive materials based on recent changes in the International Atomic Energy Agency regulations.

• DOT has postponed but anticipates in the near future publication of a proposed rule aligning the HMR with international transport standards and requirements by adding, revising or removing certain proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, bulk packaging requirements, passenger and cargo aircraft maximum quantity limitations and vessel stowage provisions.

• A final rule on the safe transportation of lithium cells and batteries is expected in the near future.

(Lexology – Wendy Wagner, Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP)

Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) held a briefing for the industry on Canadian export control policy and practices on February 3, 2011. Officials from the United States Defence Technology Security Administration and Bureau of Political Military Affairs also attended to brief the industry on the adoption of a new system for export controls in that country.

Steve Goodinson, Director of DFAIT’s Export Controls division, advised the industry of several new features added to the Export Controls Online (EXCOL) database, including online reporting of single shipment permits, a choice of permit validity period, and recently, a drop-down menu allowing exporters to select among the various types of cryptography permits.

A new export controls handbook is now available at http://www.exportcontrols.gc.ca. In addition, substantive changes to Canada’s Export Control List (ECL) will be released in April in the “Guide to Canada’s Export Controls 2009” (to replace the 2007 list). The 2009 list will add new controls for certain CCD image sensors and para-military surface vehicles. Carbon fibre and ancillary encryption (eg. encryption used for gaming or in household appliances) will be decontrolled. Read more here.