On July 10, 2019, Bill C-21 “An Act to amend the Customs Act” entered into effect. On July 10, 2019, the Governor in Council published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, SI-2019-44 “Order Fixing the day on which this Order is made as the day on which that Act comes into Force” (PC-2019-904) and
Export Controls & Economic Sanctions
Canada Announces End of Customs Paper Reporting in 2020
On July 8, 2019, the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) issued Customs Notice 19-14 “Mandatory electronic export reporting for exporters” in which it announced paper reporting will end on June 30, 2020. Canadian exporters will not longer be able to file Form B13A to report exports.
As of June 30, 2020, it will be mandatory…
Canada commences investigation into possible violation of Sudan sanctions
On July 3, 2019, the Globe & Mail reported in an article entitled “Ottawa recommends RCMP investigate Canadian lobby firm representing Sudanese military” that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (“RCMP”) has opened an investigation into whether Dickens & Madson (Canada) Inc. had violated Canada’s economic sanctions against Sudan. Globe & Mail reporting and an Amnesty…
Canada Imposes Unilateral Economic Sanctions Against Nicaraguan Officials
On June 21, 2019, the Government of Canada announced that it was implementing/imposing economic sanctions against nine Nicaraguan officials in response to ongoing gross and systematic human rights violations by the Government of Nicaragua. The economic sanctions and trade restrictions were imposed under the Special Economic Measures Act. Similar sanctions were imposed by the…
Trade Trouble – East, West and South, but North Is Settled for Now!
Agriculture Secretary Perdue recently stated the trade damages to be addressed in a new round of farm aid is $15 to $20 billion! The general press is replete with stories about how, as these tariffs continue, companies are making sourcing changes that will be hard to reverse. So, what is the latest news?
First, there…
Warning to Employers When Staffing Special Projects
There are many ways employers may run afoul of the anti-discrimination provisions in U.S. immigration law. As a very clear starting point, the general rule for a long time has been and remains an employer may not make hiring, firing, or recruitment / referral decisions based on a worker’s citizenship status. However, there are notable…
OFAC Brings the Hammer
In March, there was a good deal of consternation in the general press trying to understand news that President Trump had overruled the actions of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) to impose additional sanctions on North Korea. Beside the oddity of a President overruling actions by a part of the Executive branch after…
Whither Goeth Government Contracting?
Originally published by the Journal of Commerce in March 2019
On the trade with China front this week, the news is Huawei Technologies Co, of China sued the U.S. government regarding provisions in the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (“NDAA”). The timing of the lawsuit is drawing interest as…
Why Are My Goods Being Inspected?
Originally published by the Journal of Commerce in February 2019
Of all the questions asked of trade attorneys, this is likely the most frequent one. The answer is both a study in current events, but also much more complex. Let’s start at the obvious beginning point. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) receives advance information about…
Happy New Year – Now Let’s Get Back to Business!
Originally published by the Journal of Commerce in January 2019
One of the topics that consistently makes the top 5 in just about every survey of issues of concern to companies is the cost of regulatory compliance. This is true in large measure because the complexity of the issues covered by those regulations keeps increasing…