Memorandum D15-2-55: Certain Carbon Steel Plate and High Strength Low Alloy Steel Plate Originating in or Exported from Ukraine

(CBSA)

This memorandum refers to the application of anti-dumping duty to importations of certain carbon steel plate and high strength low alloy steel plate originating in or exported from Ukraine.

Customs Notice 10-005 Processing of Form B2 Adjustment Requests

(CBSA)

The purpose of this customs notice is to advise that effective April 1, 2010, the processing of B2 adjustment requests, with certain exceptions, will be centralized at two locations for all of Canada. As of that time, the Quebec and Greater Toronto Area (GTA) regions will be responsible for processing all B2 adjustment requests from across Canada, with certain exceptions as detailed here.

CFIA Easter Holiday Schedule

(CFIA)

The Import Control Division will be closed for the Easter holiday from Thursday April 1, 2010 at 4:00 pm (ET) until Tuesday April 6, 2010 at 8:00 am. If you require assistance please contact the Import Service Centres located in Toronto (ON) or Montreal (QC).

EISC – Montreal: 1-877-493-0468, 514-493-2468, FAX 514-493-4103
NISC – Toronto: 1-800-835-4486, 905-795-7834, FAX 905-795-9658

Please note: Ottawa Meat Import Control Centre (1-877-682-5191) will be opened Friday 2 April 2010 and Monday 5 April 2010 from the hours of 8 AM to 6 PM.

Minister Van Loan Introduces Legislation for Canada-Jordan Free Trade Agreement

(Minister of International Trade)

Agreement will expand trade opportunities with Jordan

The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade, today followed through on a commitment made in the Speech from the Throne earlier this month by introducing legislation to implement the Canada-Jordan Free Trade Agreement and related agreements on labour cooperation and the environment.

“The Canada-Jordan Free Trade Agreement, once implemented, will open doors to this growing economy and give Canadian businesses a real advantage in the broader Middle East and North African markets,” said Minister Van Loan.

Upon implementation, the free trade agreement will eliminate tariffs on over 99%, by value, of recent Canadian exports to Jordan, thereby directly benefiting Canadian exporters and workers. Two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Jordan totalled $82.5 million in 2009. Read more here.

SIMA Re-investigation Certain Steel Plate

(CBSA)

The Canada Border Services Agency has initiated a re-investigation of the normal values and export prices of certain steel plate originating in or exported from the People’s Republic of China (Plate III); Republic of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Romania (Plate V); and Ukraine (Plate VI).

Should you have any questions regarding this re-investigation, please contact one of the officers listed below.

Matthew Lerette: 613-954-7398
Benjamin Walker: 613-952-8665

Facsimile: 613-948-4844

CFIA: Western Import Service Centre Closure

(CFIA)

Please be advised that the Western Import Service Centre (WISC) located in Vancouver (BC) will be closing as of 31 March 2010. All operations of the WISC will be performed at the National Import Service Centre (NISC) in Toronto, Ontario.

Contact information for the NISC:

CFIA/ACIA - National Import Service Central (NISC)
Phone:1-800-835-4486
Phone:1-905-795-7834
Fax: 1-905-795-9658

Mailing Address:
1050 Courtneypark Drive East, Room 154
Mississauga, Ontario
L5T 2R4

CBSA Investigates the Dumping of Greenhouse Bell Peppers

(Canada NewsWire)

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that it is initiating an investigation into the alleged injurious dumping of greenhouse bell peppers originating in or exported from the Netherlands.

The investigation follows a complaint filed by the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) of Leamington, Ontario. The complainant alleges that the dumping of these goods is harming Canadian production by causing the following: lost sales, price erosion, price suppression, reduction in gross margins and reduced profitability.

A copy of the statement of reasons that provides more details about the investigation will be available on the CBSA’s Web site here within 15 days.

Revised: D9-1-13 White Phosphorous Matches

(CBSA)

The following changes have been made to accurately reflect the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) role in administering the provisions of the Customs Tariff:

1. New terminology is used to reflect changes in organizational structure of the CBSA.

2. A legislative reference section has been updated to show the relevant sections of the Customs Tariff and Customs Act.

Revised D-Memoranda: NAFTA Rules of Origin

(CBSA)

Memorandum D11-5-1 NAFTA Rules of Origin

• The title of this memorandum has been changed from NAFTA Rules of Origin Regulations to NAFTA Rules of Origin.

• This memorandum has been revised to reflect recent amendments to the NAFTA Rules of Origin Regulations as a result of the modifications to the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System which came into force on January 1, 2007. These amendments make a number of changes to the numbering of headings, subheadings or tariff items. They are technical in nature and do not represent a change in policy.

• Also, this revised memorandum will provide a stable link to the official version of the NAFTA Rules of Origin Regulations. The NAFTA Rules of Origin Regulations are no longer fully excerpted in this memorandum.

• These Regulations, amending the NAFTA Rules of Origin Regulations as a result of the modifications to the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, came into force on September 1, 2009.

Memorandum D11-5-2 NAFTA – Specific Rules of Origin

• The title of this memorandum has been changed from NAFTA Rules of Origin Regulations – Amendments to Schedule I – Specific Rules of Origin to NAFTA – Specific Rules of Origin.

• This memorandum has been revised to provide a stable link to the official version of the NAFTA Rules of Origin Regulations – Schedule I – Specific Rules of Origin. The NAFTA line-by-line rules are no longer fully excerpted in this memorandum.

• Amendments to the Schedule I – Specific Rules of Origin have been made to reflect modifications to the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) which came into force on January 1, 2007, and a liberalization of the rules of origin by the three NAFTA Parties.

• Changes to the numbering of headings, subheadings or tariff items to reflect modifications to the HS are technical in nature and do not affect the origin of goods. The changes to reflect the liberalization of the rules of origin act to ease the origin requirements for herbs and spices, petroleum, leather, certain textiles and apparel, aluminium, diesel engines, gas turbines and parts, valves, electric transformers, primary cells and batteries, telephonics, televisions, locomotives and parts, medical appliances and parts, and other instruments.

Memorandum D11-5-7: Canada-European Free Trade Association Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) Rules of Origin

(CBSA)

1. The following provisions of Annex C to the version of the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the States of the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland), signed on January 26, 2008, have the force of law in Canada: a. Articles 1 to 8; b. Article 9, paragraph 1; c. Articles 10 to 12; d. Article 14; and e. Appendix I.

2. These Regulations come into force on July 1, 2009, but if they are registered after that day, they come into force on the day they are registered.

Complete memorandum here.

Memorandum D11-5-8: Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) Rules of Origin

(CBSA)

1. The following provisions of the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Peru, signed on May 29, 2008, have the force of law in Canada: a. Articles 301 to 305; b. Article 306, paragraphs 1 and 2; c. Articles 307 to 315; d. Article 318; and e. Annex 301.

2. These Regulations come into force on the day on which section 36 of the Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, chapter 16 of the Statutes of Canada, 2009, comes into force.

Complete memorandum here.

SIMA: Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods Originating in or Exported from the People’s Republic of China – Statement of Reasons

(CBSA)

On February 22, 2010, pursuant to paragraph 41(1)(a) of the Special Import Measures Act, the President of the Canada Border Services Agency made final determinations of dumping and subsidizing respecting the alleged injurious dumping and subsidizing of oil country tubular goods, made of carbon or alloy steel, welded or seamless, heat-treated or not heat-treated, regardless of end finish, having an outside diameter from 2 3/8 inches to 13 3/8 inches (60.3 mm to 339.7 mm), meeting or supplied to meet American Petroleum Institute (API) specification 5CT or equivalent standard, in all grades, excluding drill pipe and excluding seamless casing up to 11 ¾ inches (298.5 mm) in outside diameter, originating in or exported from the People’s Republic of China.

A PDF version of the Statement of Reasons is available here.

Centralization of B2 Processing

(CBSA)

Procedures for centralized B2 processing that take effect April 1, 2010 are summarized in this letter from the CBSA.

New CBSA Organizational Structure

(CBSA)

CBSA President Stephen Rigby and CBSA Vice-President Cathy Munroe yesterday announced to the Border Commercial Consultative Committee details of the new management model and organizational structure that will be implemented on April 1, 2010.

It has been CBSA President Stephen Rigby’s plan to better align the Agency with its objectives and to establish clear lines of authority and a structure that would support a new service strategy with measurable performance standards.

While Stephen Rigby and Luc Portelance remain as the President and Executive Vice President, respectively, there is a significant change at the next level in the organizational structure.

CFIA HS Code Filter List

(CFIA)

Attached is the CFIA HS Code Filter List which will be published on the CBSA website on March 15, 2010.

CFIA: Reminder of Changes to Import Notification Requirements

(CFIA)

Attached is a letter from the CFIA Imported and Manufactured Food Division: Reminder of changes to import notification requirements.

CITT Finding: Hot-Rolled Carbon Steel Plate and High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel Plate – Ukraine

(CITT)

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal, pursuant to section 42 of the Special Import Measures Act, has conducted an inquiry to determine whether the dumping of hot-rolled carbon steel plate and high-strength low-alloy steel plate not further manufactured than hot-rolled, heat-treated or not, in cut lengths in widths from 24 inches (610 mm) to 152 inches (3,860 mm) inclusive and in thicknesses from 0.187 inch (4.75 mm) up to and including 3.0 inches (76.0 mm) inclusive (with all dimensions being plus or minus allowable tolerances contained in the applicable standards, e.g. ASTM standards A6/A6M and A20/A20M), originating in or exported from Ukraine; excluding universal mill plate, plate for use in the manufacture of pipe and plate having a rolled, raised figure at regular intervals on the surface (also known as floor plate), has caused injury or retardation or is threatening to cause injury to the domestic industry.

Further to the issuance by the President of the Canada Border Services Agency of a final determination dated January 4, 2010, that these goods have been dumped, and pursuant to subsection 43(1) of the Special Import Measures Act, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal hereby finds that the dumping of these goods has not caused injury but is threatening to cause injury to the domestic industry.

Reasons published available here.

Budget Highlights – Department of Finance

(CBSA)

Budget 2009 eliminated tariffs on imports of machinery and equipment in order to help Canadian manufacturers maintain and enhance their competitiveness during the economic downturn. This measure saved companies $88 million annually and was widely supported by manufacturers and economic experts. Stakeholders expressed an interest in further tariff relief, including the concept of establishing tariff-free zones.

After extensive public consultations with Canadian industry, Budget 2010 responds by making all of Canada a tariff-free zone for industrial manufacturers by eliminating remaining tariffs on machinery and equipment, as well as goods imported for further manufacturing in Canada.

This means that tariffs will be eliminated on 1,541 tariff items with most of the reductions taking place immediately, on March 5. The remainder will be gradually eliminated by no later than 2015.

Once fully implemented, this measure will save Canadian manufacturers $300 million in annual duties and eliminate the need for burdensome customs paperwork.

This measure will have wide ranging benefits for the economy and for manufacturers in terms of their ability to improve their competiveness in domestic and international markets, maintain and increase jobs, raise productivity, and improve product quality and innovation.

Small and medium-sized enterprises that must source goods for production from global supply chains will be key beneficiaries.

Canadian exports to all regions are expected to grow as a result of this measure. This will help diversify Canadian trade and build on the Government’s Global Commerce Strategy which includes opening new markets through bilateral and multilateral (i.e. Doha Round) trade negotiations. The Government is currently negotiating a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the EU, undergoing exploratory work with India, and it has recently concluded FTAs with Peru, Colombia, Panama, EFTA and Jordan.

It will compliment Canada’s Tax Advantage and stable financial sector, making Canada a destination of choice for foreign investors. This measure also demonstrates Canadian leadership as the host and co-host of the G8 and G20. These countries have committed to maintaining open markets and making further progress on trade liberalization in order to promote global economic recovery.

The 2010 budget documents are available at www.budget.gc.ca. The list of affected tariff items is included in the Notice of Ways and Means Motion at the end of the budget at pages 431 to 447. The corresponding descriptions for the tariff items may be cross-referenced with the Customs Tariff which is available online here.

Other Government Departments and Agencies: Reference List

(CBSA)

Many government departments and agencies are involved in the importation of goods into Canada. CBSA published a reference list of the most commonly imported commodities that may require permits and/or certificates from other government departments or agencies.

The list is available here.

Van Loan Says Canada Wins Gold with Global Business Leaders

(DFAIT)

More than Olympic athletes will be returning home from Vancouver on Monday with a first-place impression of Canada, said Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade, at the conclusion of the Global Business Leaders Initiative.

“The 2010 Olympic Winter Games showed the world that Canada provides great competitive advantages to those seeking to do business,” said Van Loan. “International investors saw that The Economist was right to declare Canada the best place to invest in the years ahead. Our banking system has been ranked the most stable in the world, we have a highly educated workforce, we enjoy a high quality of life and we are on track to lead the G7 in economic growth in 2011. Canada is a first-rate destination for investment.”

The Global Business Leaders Initiative was a two-week investor outreach program led by Van Loan during the Olympics. It included a series of business round tables, as well as one-on-one meetings between Van Loan and global business leaders. The initiative attracted international media attention, successfully highlighting Canada’s commercial strengths and investment advantages to the world.

For additional information on Canada’s many investment and business advantages, please visit here.