Canada published a notice on refunds for surtaxes paid on steel goods that were subject to temporary safeguard duties but not final safeguards, in the Canada Gazette, Part II. "The Safeguard Surtax Refund Order provides refunds for provisional safeguard surtaxes paid on imports of rebar, energy tubular products, hot-rolled sheet, pre-painted steel and wire rod, as well as imports of heavy plate and stainless steel wire from Korea, Panama, Peru and Colombia specifically," the notice said. "Refunds are granted for such goods that have been imported on or after October 25, 2018, for which surtaxes have been collected under the Provisional Surtax Order, provided that no other relief of the surtax has been granted."
Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland submitted a notice "of a Ways and Means motion to introduce an Act to implement the Agreement between Canada, the United States of America and the United Mexican States," in the House of Commons on May 27, according to the official record. That notice marks the beginning of the process for Canada's parliament to ratify the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.
A man was ordered to pay a fine of about $22,200 after the Canada Border Services Agency said he tried to smuggle nearly 8,800 pounds of cheese through the Lansdowne, Ontario, port, CBSA said in a My 27 press release. CBSA said the man, Haissam Azzar, entered Canada with “eight skids of undeclared cheese” before being arrested and charged with smuggling. As part of the penalty, Azzar must pay the fine within five years, making a minimum payment of about $750 each year.
Recent editions of Mexico's Diario Oficial list trade-related notices as follows:
The government of Canada recently issued the following trade-related notices as of May 24 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):
Canada "is no longer accepting requests from the remission of surtaxes" now that the retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. are no longer in effect, the Department of Finance Canada said in an update to its page on the process for remission requests. Canada officially announced the end to the tariffs on May 20 (see 1905200054).
Recent editions of Mexico's Diario Oficial list trade-related notices as follows:
Canada posted a list of "key dates and access quantities of the various Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQ) for the import of supply managed goods under the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)." Global Affairs Canada mentioned the list as an important update for importers and exporters on May 23.
The Mexican Secretariat of Economy has announced a 90-day grace period for new requirements to submit proof of compliance with certain Mexican product standards at the time of entry, according to a circular issued by the Mexican Confederation of Customs Broker Associations that posted by consultancy AJR Comercio Exterior. Under regulations issued in October, imports subject to some Mexican standards will be denied entry into Mexico beginning June 3, 2019, if they are not accompanied by a certificate of compliance previously entered into an automated system by the third-party certifier (see 1904100076).
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will continue trade in swine products "in the event African swine fever (ASF) is reported in either country," the chief veterinary officers from both countries said in a joint statement. "For business continuity, Canada and the United States have worked to modify their export certificates to allow trade of live swine, swine semen, pet food and animal by-products and meat to continue trade in approved disease-free zones in the event of an ASF outbreak," the CVOs said. The two countries previously set out principles for trade and zoning to help slow the spread of diseases.