GHY Tradelines

An updated list of recently published government memorandums, notices, regulations and decisions for the week ending December 2, 2011 is now available on our website here.
 

(Journal of Commerce Online)

Cargo-related charges to rise 30%, while marine dues to increase 23%

Operating costs for vessels calling at India’s Port of Mumbai will go up substantially mid-December following a tariff increase decision by the Tariff Authority for Major Ports, the country’s port regulator.

The revised rate scale, effective Dec. 21 through March 31, 2014, calls for a 30% hike in cargo-related charges and a 23% in marine dues. Cargo-related charges cover stevedoring, wharfage and demurrage, while marine dues include berth hire and pilotage fees. Read more here.
 

(Produce News Daily – Joan Murphy)

After hearing news the World Trade Organization ruled against the U.S. country-of-origin labeling program in a trade dispute, the supermarket industry said that Congress should revisit it and perhaps repeal it because it is costing the industry millions of dollars and providing little benefit to consumers.

In December 2008, Canada challenged the COOL law, which required labels to declare the country of origin at retail for certain meats, fish, produce and other commodities. Canada, joined later by Mexico, argued that the farm bill program violated international trade rules in the handling of hog and cattle imports, particularly the provision that animals had to be born, raised and slaughtered in the United States to gain the U.S. COOL label.

A WTO panel ruled Nov. 18 in favor of Canada and Mexico, saying that COOL violated a trade agreement by “according less favorable treatment to imported Canadian cattle and hogs than to like domestic products.”

The supermarket industry pointed to the WTO ruling as an open door to change the law. Read more here.
 

(Journal of Commerce Online – Mark Szakonyi)

Agreement with engineers, dispatchers eliminates strike threat — for now

Two unions representing railroad workers have reached tentative agreement with major U.S. railroads, averting the immediate threat of a national labor action.

The move relieves shippers’ fear of an immediate labor strike or stoppage as early as next week that would have crippled shipping amid the peak holiday season. Agreements have been struck with 12 of the 13 railroad unions, most recently with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the American Train Dispatchers Association, which represent approximately 26,500 workers. Read more here.
 

(Canadian Transportation & Logistics)

The cost of ground transportation for Canadian shippers in September remained the same month-over-month, according to the latest figures from the Canadian General Freight Index (CGFI).

However, the Base Rate Index, which excludes the impact of accessorial charges assessed by carriers, decreased by .1% for the same period. It was the first decrease in base rates since March.

Offsetting the decrease in base rates were slight increases in both average fuel surcharges assessed by carriers and other accessorial charges. During this period, fuel surcharges assessed by carriers equated to 20.16% of base rates, up from 20.1% in August. The combined effect of lower base rates and higher accessorial charges resulted in no change in average transportation costs for Canadian shippers, according to the report. Read more here.
 

(CTV News – The Canadian Press)

Canadian exporters have become almost as pessimistic as they were before the recession about their prospects for sales amid weakening global markets, Export Development Canada says.

The Crown corporation’s latest semi-annual survey of exporters and investors, released Thursday morning, shows confidence levels tumbling 12% to the 67 mark.

That’s only the second time in a decade the index has dropped more than 10% in one poll, and the new confidence reading puts it in the neighbourhood of the 61 recorded in the fall of 2008, when the world was entering the so-called Great Recession.

“Canadian exporters appear frustrated by the uncertainty in the global economy and the world’s markets,” said Peter Hall, the EDC’s chief economist, in a release.

“The absence of clear economic direction leads to a state of heightened tension where even the smallest nudge can trigger an irrational over-response. We believe that’s what the survey is telling us.” Read more here.
 

(CFIA)

This notice is to inform importers and brokers that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will be implementing phase 8 of the changes to import notification requirements for products in the non-federally registered food sector effective Feb 27, 2012.

Please click here for more information.
 

(CBSA)

1. This notice is for the attention of the exporting community.

2. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is currently reviewing its export Summary Reporting Program (SRP). The SRP allows exporters who meet the criteria identified in Section 4 of the Reporting of Exported Goods Regulations to report required export data in a single, monthly summary report.

3. The CBSA is now updating information on program participants to ensure that the program only includes participation from companies who are reporting bulk and/or homogenous goods for which the program was intended.

4. The CBSA has sent a letter, dated October 28, 2011, to all current SRP exporter participants outlining the SRP review process. Each participant is required to complete and submit a new SRP application form, BSF613, which is available from the CBSA Web site at www.cbsa.gc.ca under “Publications and Forms”.

5. Completed applications must be mailed or faxed to the CBSA no later than January 30, 2012. Failure to complete and return a new application to the CBSA by this date will revoke an exporter’s existing written confirmation to report their exports monthly.

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