GHY Tradelines

(CBSA)

1. This notice provides information on the Canada Border Services Agency’s (CBSA’s) new Mandatory Electronic Export Reporting Policy for exporters and explains how to report export data electronically when exporting goods by any mode of transportation.

2. In order to fulfill its mandate, the CBSA requires exporters to declare their export shipments destined to non-US destinations according to timeframes by mode.

a. marine – no less than 48 hours before the goods are loaded onto the vessel;
b. air – no less than two hours before the goods are loaded onto the aircraft;
c. rail – no less than two hours before the railcar containing the goods is assembled to form part of the train for export;
d. postal – no less than two hours before the goods are delivered to the post office where they will be mailed;
e. any other mode – immediately prior to the exportation of the goods.

3. Effective April 1, 2012, the CBSA will take steps to eliminate the manual reporting process form (B13A) for exporters and implement mandatory electronic reporting. The CBSA is now updating the applicable regulatory requirements to mandate electronic export reporting.

4. This policy direction does not impact exporters who have been approved to report their exports using the Summary Reporting Program option. In addition, when electronic permit reporting options are not available, the requirement to present a paper copy of the electronic export declaration and OGD permit at the CBSA office closest to the point of exit remains unchanged.

5. The receipt of electronic declarations from exporters will provide the CBSA and its partners with increased data quality and more accurate, consistent information. Electronic reporting aligns Canada’s Export Program with the reporting processes in other countries and is consistent with the overall direction of the CBSA’s commercial program.

6. Exporters will note several benefits from this change in policy: the elimination of the paper B13A and its preparation and processing costs; elimination of the requirement to physically present B13As at a CBSA office for stamping; expedite goods shipped via courier as these shipments would normally be held by the courier if the declaration has not been reported to the CBSA in accordance with the reporting timeframes.

7. There are two options available for exporters who choose to report electronically –
the Canadian Automated Export Declaration (CAED) and the G7 Export Reporting Electronic Data Interchange (G7-EDI). The CAED is a downloadable software available free of charge on the Statistics Canada website at:www.statcan.gc.ca/exp. The G7-EDI option requires an investment from the exporting company and provides a direct link to the CBSA’s ACROSS System. Information on becoming an EDI-G7 participant may be obtained at the following website: www.cbsa.gc.ca/eservices. To register, or if you require more information on how to report your goods electronically using CAED or G7-EDI, you may contact the CAED/G7 helpline at: 1-800-257-2434.

8. The implementation date is targeted for April 1, 2012. In order to provide exporters sufficient time to register for CAED or G7-EDI, the transition period will be in place until the regulations are implemented.

9. For additional information regarding this notice, please contact:

Canada Border Services Agency
Export Programs
150 Isabella Street, 10th Floor
Ottawa ON K1A 0L8

Telephone: 613-954-7160
Email: export@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
 

(GovExec.com – Charles S. Clark)

Fresh off President Obama’s announcement of a bid to streamline the business and trade agencies, the Office of Management and Budget on Friday directed 11 agencies to participate in a pilot program to inventory trade, export and competitiveness functions with the goal of weeding out duplication.

In a Jan. 13 memorandum, Chief Performance Officer Jeffrey Zients asked the chief operating officers of 11 agencies to appoint a “senior accountable official” by Feb. 1 to coordinate efforts to centralize information on possibly duplicative functions.  

“Duplicative programs make government less effective, waste taxpayer dollars and make it harder for the American people to navigate government services,” Zients wrote. “Critical information on the government’s programs has not been centralized in one place, making it difficult to access information on programs working to achieve similar objectives.” Read more here.
 

(CBSA)

What’s Inside:

Border Action Plan Initiatives – Enhanced Trusted Trader and Traveller Programs, Single Window, Integrated Cargo Security Strategy, Coordinated Entry/Exit Information System and Radio Frequency Identification Systems

Other Commercial News – Pre-arrival Review System and Electronic Data Interchange Sub-Committee, ISPM 15 requirements, Canada’s Gateway and Corridor Strategies, Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection, Mutual Recognition Arrangements, and Canada–European Union Joint Customs Cooperation Committee

Download it here: English • French
 

(Edmonton Journal – Joe Rosario)

Fueled by demand in emerging and developing countries, world agricultural exports have more than doubled in the past decade, from $551 billion in 2000 to over $1.3 trillion in 2008. The global recession took its toll with exports declining to $1.17 trillion in 2009 but they have since recovered vigorously. However, agricultural exports from Canada only increased from $35 billion to $54 billion during the 2000-2008 period.

Alberta paints an even more dismal picture. Our agricultural exports have been relatively stagnant over the decade — in the $5 billion- $6 billion range — except in 2008 when a sharp price increase for grains and oilseeds occurred. Of even greater concern is the stagnation (at around $3 billion) in value-added exports such as beef, pork, processed grains and oilseeds and consumer-ready products. World demand for such products has increased rapidly due to rising income, population growth and urbanization. Market-access restrictions are one important cause of Canada’s and Alberta’s relatively poor performance. Read more here.
 

(Embassy – Sneh Duggal)

Travel, hospitality, and personnel cuts, downsizing or closing missions all on the table, say former employees

As the government looks to tighten its belt in budget 2012, it could be choosing any of several approaches to cutting the foreign affairs department, including cutting cars, personnel, hospitality services or programming, as well as shrinking Canada’s diplomatic footprint, say former diplomats.

The government is on a mission to balance its budget by 2014-2015 and is doing a spending review that aims to find at least $4-billion in annual savings from $80-billion of direct program spending. This would mean about $11-billion in savings by 2015-2016.

The government’s departments and agencies have been asked to provide scenarios of what a five per cent or 10% cut to their spending would look like, and the results of the review will be released in budget 2012, coming February or March.   But CBC News reported on Jan. 9 that the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade is one of several departments to face an accelerated process that will find spending cuts crest higher, earlier.

So far, the government isn’t confirming that story, or much else about DFAIT cuts. A Treasury Board spokesperson wrote in an email that no decisions have yet been made. Read more here.
 

(World Trade Interactive)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted to its Web site additional information about the centers it is establishing to speed the processing of imported goods. The first two – the Center of Excellence and Expertise – Electronics in Los Angeles and the Center of Excellence and Expertise – Pharmaceuticals in New York – were created last October, and others are anticipated in 2012. Each CEE will seek to increase the uniformity of practices across ports of entry, facilitate the timely resolution of trade compliance issues nationwide and further strengthen CBP knowledge on key industry practices. Read more here.