The Canadian Society of Customs Brokers, the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America and the Mexican Confederation of Customs Broker Associations (CAAAREM) signed a joint strategy agreement on Oct. 29, the NCBFAA said in an email to members. The groups agreed to "promote data harmonization and alignment" exchange implementation information about the revised NAFTA and "foster increased compliance with international trade agreements through shared communication with trade chain partners." The associations also agreed to "enhance and raise awareness of the role of customs brokers, including exploration of harmonization of [Authorized Economic Organization (AEO)]/trusted trader programs and mutual recognition arrangements." Broker training and professional development standards will be another goal for the groups in 2020.
Natural Resources Canada released an updated list of Harmonized System tariff codes that will be affected by coming energy efficiency regulations, the Canada Border Services Agency said in an emailed message. The "list of HS codes for regulated energy-using products has been revised to reflect the Amendment 15 and 16 to the Energy Efficiency Regulations coming into force on Dec. 12, 2019," it said in the notice. The list of codes includes "effective dates and expiry dates for each of the affected HS codes."
The Canada Border Services Agency updated a memorandum to add a prohibition on "the import and manufacture of certain products containing or designed to contain" hydrofluorocarbons, the CBSA said on Nov. 1. The agency also added a description of an allowance system for HFCs to the memo, it said.
Mexico is extending increased duties on a range of textiles, apparel and footwear products through 2024, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council said in an Oct. 31 report. Mexico is imposing a 25 percent duty on 274 apparel and made-up textile tariff lines and a 25 percent or 30 percent duty on footwear tariff lines through Sept. 30, 2021, the report said. Those duties are scheduled to fall to 20 percent on Oct. 1, 2024.
The Canada Border Services Agency issued a customs notice on the delayed sunset date for legacy release options as part of the Single Window Initiative and Integrated Import Declaration transition (see 1910040050). The agency pushed the sunset date to April 1, 2020.