The Canada Border Services Agency replaced a notice issued in January on positioning empty containers, it said in Customs Notice 19-07. The replacement notice "is issued to amend the information on how shipping companies using foreign-flagged vessels to reposition empty containers (that they own or lease) in Canadian waters (on a non-revenue basis) are to be treated," the CBSA said.

The Mexican Tax Administration Service issued a notice May 8 amending the country’s Foreign Trade Regulations. Changes include the addition and removal of tariff subheadings -- all involving textiles, apparel and footwear -- from several annexes that list goods subject to import permits, goods that are prohibited from transit, and goods that may be moved through certain ports, among other things, according to a Confederation of Mexican Customs Broker Associations (CAAAREM) circular posted by consultancy AJR Comercio Exterior. The notice also makes changes to requirements for Mexican customs brokers.

Mexico will move the headquarters of its customs service to Nuevo Laredo, said General Administrator of Customs Ricardo Peralta, according to a report in La Verdad de Tamaulipas. Peralta confirmed the move during a meeting in Mexico City with Mayor Enrique Rivas Cuellar of Nuevo Laredo, Mayor Pete Saenz of Laredo, Texas, and Edgardo Pedraza Quintanilla of the Nuevo Laredo Customs Broker Association, the report said. The “decentralization” process is part of a broader customs reform that will see the creation of an independent Mexican customs agency (see 1904150042).

The government of Canada recently issued the following trade-related notices as of May 8 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will soon begin to add the first commodity group of a phased-in approach for implementing organic import requirements in the Automated Import Reference System, the CFIA said in a May 7 email. "To implement the import requirements into AIRS, CFIA will use a phased-in approach which will involve creating new commodity identifiers (OGD extension codes) for organic products by commodity type," it said. "The fresh fruits and vegetables will be the first commodity group to be implemented on May 29th, 2019. The list of the new OGD extensions will be made available prior to the AIRS publication."

The National Marine Manufacturers Association celebrated Canada's full removal of tariffs on multiple types of boats from the U.S., in a May 6 news release. The Department of Finance Canada recently announced the change, which is expected to run in Canada Gazette on May 15, the NMMA said. Effective April 30, Canada's 10 percent retaliatory tariffs won't apply to the following items:

Recent editions of Mexico's Diario Oficial list trade-related notices as follows:

The Canada Border Services Agency updated the Regulated Commodities Data Element Matching Criteria Tables for use with Integrated Import Declarations, the CBSA said in a May 6 email. Effective May 6, the agency said it updated the tables for headings covered by Transport Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Health Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Global Affairs Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada. The update will appear on CBSA's website, though the agency notes that the website is still being updated.

Health Canada recently published new regulations for corded window coverings meant to reduce the strangulation hazard created by such products, the agency said in a news release. The regulations specify "requirements for construction, performance, labelling, and required product information across all market segments," Health Canada said in a notice in the Canada Gazette, Part II. The regulations take effect May 1, 2021, and will apply to all corded window coverings "sold, advertised, imported, or manufactured in Canada," Health Canada said. Among other things, the regulations will add requirements for sizes, lead content and reachability.

The government of Canada recently issued the following trade-related notices as of May 3 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):