The U.S. and Paraguay signed an updated Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement that expands “the ability to share information and strengthens trade facilitation efforts and enforcement capabilities,” CBP said in an emailed July 14 news release. “This revised agreement is a key component to further enhancing our partnership with Paraguay,” CBP Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan said. “The CMAA demonstrates our bilateral commitment to preventing and investigating crimes associated with goods crossing our borders, while simultaneously facilitating legitimate trade.” This CMAA replaces the version that was signed in 2002. Under the revised version, “information exchanged under the agreement may now be used in criminal proceedings by both parties,” CBP said. The U.S. has CMAAs with 82 countries, it said.
The Alliance for Trade Enforcement is asking U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to bring up intellectual property and agriculture issues with Mexico and Canada in the USMCA. The alliance includes trade groups in pharmaceutical, biotech and creative industries and the National Association of Manufacturers, in addition to broad trade groups such as the National Foreign Trade Council and the U.S. Council for International Business.
Canada will no longer allow imports of commercial puppies under eight months of age from Ukraine. Following an investigation into a large shipment of puppies from the country, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is canceling all import permits for commercial puppies under eight months, and will no longer issue new permits for imports of puppies under eight months from Ukraine, it said in a July 6 statement. “The CFIA's decision is based on investigation findings of possible failures to comply with import requirements, including animal welfare concerns. These actions will remain in effect until the CFIA is satisfied that import conditions and international transport standards are in place and that animals will travel safely in the future,” it said.