GHY Tradelines

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

(Bloomberg – Jim Brunsden)

The European Union’s executive will seek the power to block companies based outside the EU from bidding for public procurement contracts in Europe as part of plans to boost the bloc’s arsenal against trade discrimination.

The EU’s top financial-services and trade officials plan to propose next month that the European Commission in Brussels should have the power to ban companies from winning public procurement contracts in the region if they are based in countries that “repeatedly discriminate” against European firms, Chantal Hughes, a spokesperson for the commission, said today in an e-mail. Read more here.
 

(Export Development Canada – Peter G. Hall)

Opinions on Canadian international trade are many and varied. Exports and international investments were battered by the global recession, and have struggled to make a comeback. But overall growth was very slow before the recession, thanks to weak US sales. Count firms that export, and you’ll find the number has tumbled. Yet trade growth is expected to lead the Canadian economy forward, with supercharged trade to non-traditional markets leading the way. What do we make of these views?

Some of Canada’s setbacks are shared by all trading nations. Others are unique to Canada, and it is these that are more critical. As such, understanding Canada’s position relative to the rest of the world is critical, especially given global turbulence. At first glance, the numbers look bad. Canada’s share of global trade declined from 4% in 2000 to 2.8% in 2010. Is there a good explanation for this, or does it confirm that our position on the global trade stage is declining? Read more or watch the video here.
 

(Reuters – Niu Shuping and Ken Wills)

Chinese quarantine authorities will allow imports of Canadian canola by some selected crushers located in major growing areas, partially lifting a ban it imposed because of fungal disease concerns, traders said on Thursday.

The import relaxation, likely to be cleared in the second half of the year, would further boost canola imports from the world’s largest exporter of canola/rapeseed to China later in the year. […]

China has restricted imports of Canadian canola since 2009 and only allowed shipments to areas away from the country’s major growing areas on worries over the spread of the fungal disease blackleg. Read more here.
 

(CBSA)

1. This notice provides information on mandatory electronic reporting for marine carriers exporting containerized cargo.

2. Under the Reporting of Exported Goods Regulations, marine carriers are required to report to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) their conveyance (A6) prior to departure and cargo (A6A) within three working days after vessel departure.

3. As part of a commitment made during consultations with external stakeholders, the CBSA will begin to mandate electronic export reporting for marine carriers. The receipt of marine carrier electronic reports will provide the CBSA and its partners with improved data quality. Electronic reporting is consistent with the overall direction of the CBSA’s commercial program and aligns Canada’s Export Program with the reporting processes in other countries.

4. Phase 1, a voluntary transitional period, will be implemented on September 1, 2012 to provide the shipping lines sufficient time to map and test their systems with the Electronic Commerce Unit. The reporting of the (A6) and (A6A) for containerized cargo for all destinations will be completed using the existing CBSA Advanced Commercial Information (ACI) conveyance and export cargo maps.

5. Phase 2 will begin with the implementation of revised Reporting of Exported Goods Regulations. The revised Regulations, which will include the requirement to report electronically, are targeted to come into effect December 2014 at which time non-compliance will result in the issuance of administrative monetary penalties.

6. Information on becoming an ACI participant may be obtained by accessing: www.cbsa.gc.ca. For policy guidance please contact the Export Programs Unit at the following email address: export@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.

Notes:

• Electronic reporting does not change the requirement to present a printout of the A6 to the CBSA at each port of exit where goods are loaded. The CBSA collects and transmits information including the Crew List (IMM0200), the Crews’ Effects (BSF552) and Ship Stores (E1) declarations.
• In addition, shipping lines are required by international customs authorities to retain a stamped copy of the A6 and this document is presented upon arrival in the foreign port of entry.
• This policy direction applies to marine carriers exporting containerized cargo.
• This notice does not impact bulk cargo.

7. 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