On February 14, 2017, the Canadian House of Commons passed Bill C-30 “An Act to implement the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union and its Member States and to provide for certain other measures“ at Third Reading. There were three days of debates at third reading on February
February 2017
Move over BRIC, the Acronym of 2017 Will Be MIC
It used to be we talked about BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China). We will now be talking about MIC (Mexico, India, China). We used to talk about the developing markets of consumers. We are now going to be talking about trade. However, MIC means different things to different countries. The United States wants to reduce…
Over-Compensation Is An Issue In Export Controls/Economic Sanctions Compliance
Canada
On February 10, 2017, the CBC posted an article entitled “PayPal freezes Canadian media company’s account over story about Syrian family“. A community newspaper (Flin Flon Reminder) in Canada saw PayPal freeze its account. What prompted the freeze was the local newspaper entering an article entitled “Syrian family adapts to new life”…
What Will Trudeau Talk To Trump About?
U.S.A.
On February 13, 2017, Prime Minister Trudeau will travel to the United States to visit with President Trump. The most important topic for discussion is that Canada-United States relationship. The most important goal is to ensure that trading relationship remains strong.
This is a fun post, which is based on trade issues between Canada…
Canada’s Big Anti-Bribery Case Ends in Dismissed Charges
On February 10, 2017, three former executives of SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. saw Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (Canada) charges withdrawn in the Ontario Superior Court. Former SNC vice-president of energy and infrastructure Kevin Wallace, former SNC vice-president of international development Ramesh Shah, and Bangladeshi-Canadian businessman Zulfiquar Ali Bhuiyana were charged with bribing an official…
It Is Best To Sever Ties With Representatives Who Commit Export Controls Infractions
Canada
On February 9, 2017, Stewart Bell wrote an article for the Financial Post entitled “Canadian company investigating branch in Iraq after logo spotted in photos of missile test“. It is never good to see your company name in the news – let alone being associated with a missile test in a…
Drugs and Bugs: The CBSA Watches Flower Imports Carefully
Every year around Valentine’s Day (and Mother’s Day and Easter), the CBSA is extra busy inspecting shipments of flowers from Colombia and Ecuador. Shipments of flowers into Canada are most commonly shipped by air or transported from the United States after importation through Miami.
The two things the CBSA is looking for in fresh cut…
What Should Justin Trudeau Say To Donald Trump?
On February 12, 2017, Justin Trudeau is traveling to Washington, D.C. to meet Donald Trump at the White House. What will they talk about? Hmmm – softwood lumber? Border adjustment tax? NAFTA renegotiation? Common interests? Jobs on both sides of the border? NEXUS Card revocations of Canadians and permanent residents of Canada? Supply management? Harmonization…
The Canada Border Services Is Getting Authority To Open All Cross-Border Mail
The Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) has statutory authority in subsection 99(1) of the Customs Act to open goods that are being imported – this includes letters and packages. Currently, most packages can be opened, including legal documents sent by a law firm to another law firm or a client. A few years ago I…
Thickening of the Border – What Is Canada’s Concern?
U.S.A.
The phrase “thickening of the border” equates with increased regulations and costs, which result in difficulties or slow-downs at the border such that goods and people move at the pace of molasses. Border wait times increase as new border charges are paid and shipments are inspected and border officers assess risks. Any thickening of…