GHY Tradelines

(Balkans.com)

In a report released yesterday, the EU identifies a staggering increase in protectionism around the world with 123 new trade restrictions introduced over the last eight months – a rise of just over 25%. This brings the total number of restrictive measures in place today to 534. In its ninth report on potentially trade-restrictive measures, the European Commission points to a failure by the G20 countries to reducing trade barriers. G20 members have to do more to prevent the introduction of new barriers to trade, and to rectify protective measures introduced since the break-out of the crisis.

“Clearly G20 Members need to seriously step up their efforts to fight protectionism. I am very concerned to see the sharp rise in trade-restrictive measures in the last few months alone”, said EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht. “Let us remind ourselves that the G20 pledged to end such practices and that protectionism benefits noone. It sends the wrong signal to global trading partners, it sends the wrong signal to investors and it sends the wrong signal to the business community which relies on a predictable business climate.” Read more here.
 

(Journal of Commerce – Mark Szakonyi)

Committee on Homeland Security approves port security bill with scanning mandate

Shippers on Wednesday failed to convince members of Congress to strip out legislation from a port security bill requiring all containers be scanned overseas before being allowed into U.S. ports.

The “scan all” requirement is set to take effect next month despite the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, along with major shippers, repeatedly telling Congress that the goal is impractical. Despite congressional reports documenting technological problems, high costs, port delays and foreign government pushback, the Committee on Homeland Security on Wednesday verbally approved a bill including the requirement. Read more here.
 

(Grace MacAluso – The Windsor Star)

A third border crossing, competitive labour costs and a lower loonie are key to ensuring that Canada’s automotive sector grows, Don Walker, CEO of auto parts giant Magna International, said Wednesday.

“I hope we don’t lose assembly jobs here,” said Walker, a keynote speaker at the two-day Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association Conference at Caesars Windsor.

“We need to be competitive in all aspects. Unclogging the border is good for both the U.S. and Canada.

“There’s a lot of will on both sides to fix it.”

“It’s an unnecessary cost because if somebody is waiting to get across, you’re sitting on money and time. For the health of Windsor and Detroit it has to get fixed.” Read more here.
 

As part of CFIA’s ongoing efforts to improve the Automated Import Systems please be advised that CFIA will be performing maintenance/upgrade that will affect access to EDI.

EDI will be temporarily unavailable between 6:00 – 9:00 AM EST on Saturday 9, June 2012.  During this time clients are instructed to send all urgent requests for release by paper.  No EDI data will be lost.
 

(The Toronto Star – Tonda MacCharles)

The idea of building a fence along the U.S.-Canada border has been officially ditched.

Instead, the United States’ new Northern Border Strategy looks to rely on more virtual eyes in the sky, boots on the ground and greater integration with Canadian law enforcement.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano released Tuesday the new blueprint, the first department-wide strategy for American policy and operations at the northern border. The 20-page document foresees a far more fluid border – at least as far as law enforcement personnel and border guards go.

It says the U.S. will continue to rely on the “strategic deployment of technology” – radars, sensors, cameras posted on poles between ports of entry, drones in the sky, and vehicle scanners – as a “force multiplier” to deter and prevent terrorism and illicit activity on the border. It flags “the next generation of integrated cross-border law enforcement,” such as a planned permanent extension of the joint vessel patrol pilot program – known as Shiprider – in shared waterways; the planned introduction of similar joint land operations; and efforts underway to eventually share biometric information collected through each country’s immigration visa application system. Read more here.