News & Information about Transborder and International Trade from GHY International
An updated list of recently published government memorandums, notices, regulations and decisions for the week ending April 27, 2011 is now available on our website here.
Date: April 27, 2012
(CFIA)
CFIA announced changes to the list of designated facilities for the inspection of meat products from the United States for the establishments on the attached list.
Date: April 27, 2012
(China Business Watch – Tony Zhu)
A government official said on Wednesday that China’s moves to regulate its rare earth industry are aimed at protecting the environment and sustaining growth, and pledged to actively respond to a request for consultation by western countries within the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework.
Zhu Hongren, chief engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), reiterated that comprehensive measures to regulate China’s rare earth industry, including production caps, export quota cuts and stricter emission standards, are in line with WTO rules.
He said China’s regulations are created after fully considering the ability of the environment to ensure effective supplies of rare earth metals. Zhu added that China is willing to cooperate with foreign companies in recycling rare earth metals and developing substitutes for the metals. Read more here.
Date: April 27, 2012
(Financial Post – Kim Covert)
Ontario will be at the forefront of Canada’s “outstanding” export momentum as manufacturing – particularly in the auto sector – rebounds this year, according to Export Development Canada.
In its semi-annual Global Export Forecast, released Thursday, Canada’s export credit agency said Ontario’s exports will grow by 9.4% in both 2012 and 2013, beating the national average both years.
“Thus far, things are looking good for trade” in Canada, says the EDC report. “Export momentum is outstanding — merchandise exports are already up 5.3% over last year’s levels, and any further growth this year will move the figure higher.” Read more here.
Date: April 27, 2012
(CBC News)
American border agents found a dreaded invasive insect crossing into Detroit from Windsor.
Agriculture specialists at the Fort Street Cargo Facility uncovered live larvae of the invasive Khapra Beetle.
They were inspecting an incoming sea container from the Ivory Coast that had traveled through Canada by rail to Detroit.
The shipment of wood veneer was destined for Washington State. Read more here.
Date: April 27, 2012
(RTT News)
The European Council on Thursday adopted a modification to regulation opening an autonomous tariff quota for imports of high-quality beef following a first reading agreement with the European Parliament.
This text will finally bring to an end the long-standing trade dispute between the EU, the U.S. and Canada on the use of “hormones” in beef within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO). By this regulation, the EU opens an additional autonomous tariff rate quota for high-quality beef that is not treated with hormones. At the same time, the U.S. has eliminated the sanctions on EU products.
As a first step, an autonomous tariff quota was established in 2009 for imports of 20,000 tons of high quality beef, and this regulation provides for two further increases of this autonomous tariff quota: from 2012 July to 21,500 tons and from August to a total of 48,200 tons. The customs duty of this tariff-rate quota will remain fixed at zero. Read more here.
Date: April 27, 2012
(The Economic Times)
The Obama administration wants China to open its market further and is working to stop the application of a United States law on Russia in a bid to help American businesses compete there, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said on Thursday.
He added that President Barack Obama’s administration is seeking to terminate application of the Jackson-Vanik amendment with respect to Russia so that American businesses “can compete on a level playing field in Russia os other members of the World Trade Organization.” The Jackson-Vanik amendment regulates trade between the U.S. and “non-market” economies that restrict emigration and other human rights.
In a speech to business executives in Singapore, Kirk said “We firmly believe that China can contribute even more to global prosperity, if it opens its markets with the same dedication that has characterized its pursuit of entry into other countries’ markets over the past 10 years.” Read more here.
Date: April 27, 2012
(Money News)
Despite a recent rebound in the auto industry, Canada’s auto parts manufacturers have fallen from the ranks of global top 10 exporters because they failed to diversify their markets, an economist said on Wednesday.
Canada’s auto parts sector is losing global market share because it has not found a way to tap into the rapid growth in low-cost geographies, Scotiabank economist Carlos Gomes said in a report. “The inability to make inroads in the fast-growing markets of Asia and Latin America is undermining Canada’s position as a major auto parts producer,” Gomes said.
Until 2007, Canada was the world’s sixth-largest auto parts exporter, but was overtaken by Spain, Korea and China during the economic downturn, the report said. Last year, Canada lost its top 10 exporter spot to the Czech Republic. The United States takes 57% of all parts shipped from Canadian plants, but the U.S. share of global vehicle assemblies has slipped to 10% from about 25% in the mid-1990s, the report said. Read more here.
Date: April 27, 2012
