Major steamship lines have announced their intention to apply general rate increases (GRI) for cargo bound from the Far East and Indian sub-continent to destinations in Canada and the USA. Effective July 15, 2019, the follow GRIs apply: USD $900 per 20’ standard container USD $1,000 per 40’ standard container

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), locals 500, 502, 505, 508, and 519, in British Columbia has tentatively scheduled a work stop meeting for tomorrow, June 19th. The action is part of the ratification process for the new collective agreement. As a result, there may be some cargo delays.

According to CSMS #19-000289, the United States Trade Representative has published the fifth round of goods excluded from the 25 percent duty assessed under the first tranche of Section 301. The exclusions cover one 10-digit HTSUS subheading and 88 specially-prepared product descriptions. These exclusions will have a backdated effective date

According to an announcement made on May 31st, India will no longer be a beneficiary developing country of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program effective June 5th. President Trump determined that India has not assured the United States that “it will provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets

Beginning June 10, 2019, the US will impose tariffs of 5% on all Mexican imports. A statement from the White House stated that the tariffs are meant to address the influx of illegal immigrants coming through the southern border. The Trump Administration hopes that the tariffs on all Mexican goods

The lockout across the B.C. waterfront has been lifted and operations are set to resume immediately. The BCMEA (British Columbia Maritime Employers’ Association) and ILWU–Canada have come to a tentative agreement which is subject to ratification. Negotiations resumed yesterday at noon, and after another round of discussions, a tentative agreement

The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) plans to lock out longshoremen in B.C. ports effective Thursday, May 30.  This will affect the Port of Vancouver and every other facility across B.C. that is a member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), including around 20 facilities and 7,000

The US tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada and Mexico were removed today. A little more than a year after being imposed, the 25 percent tariff on steel and 10 percent tariff on aluminum was withdrawn. In an announcement on Friday, May 17th, the Canadian government announced that

On May 14, 2019, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) published the fourth round of products excluded from the 25 percent duty on goods subject to tranche 1 of the Section 301 tariffs. The product exclusions cover HTSUS Chapters 84, 85, and 90. These exclusions will have a backdated effective

On May 13, 2019, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) published a Federal Register notice to begin the process of raising tariffs on the remaining imported Chinese products that are not already subject to Section 301. The proposed action will subject approximately $300 billion of Chinese imported goods

The White House published its official notice that the Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods have increased as of May 10th. Tariffs on the third tranche of Chinese goods, valued at $200 billion, have increased from 10% to 25%. The tight deadline for implementation of the increased duties caused confusion.

Following 17 months of unproductive labor negotiations, unionized longshore workers in British Columbia, represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) in Canada, are voting on whether they will strike. The vote will take place on Wednesday, May 8th and Thursday, May 9th, and a strike could occur after

On May 5th, President Trump indicated via Twitter that the third tranche of Chinese goods subject to Section 301 tariffs may increase from 10% to 25% on Friday, May 10th. The third tranche represents $200 billion of imported goods. Additionally, the President stated the remaining $325 billion worth of untaxed

For 14 years, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has tried to persuade the EU—specifically France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom—to stop subsidizing Airbus. As a countermeasure, the USTR has begun its process under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to “identify products of the EU to

Currently, shippers are experiencing delays in the movement of their freight into the Ports of Montreal and Halifax. Several factors are contributing to the delays, such as congestion, increased on-dock dwell times, and driver shortages. The ports have provided these metrics: Montreal: Published average dwell time is 5.5 days during

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is moving to its Single Window Initiative and will begin decommissioning their legacy system on April 1st. In a March 29th notice, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said they will not “reduce the service hours for manually processing import declarations transmitted” through the legacy

Amid a slowing economy, the Chinese government will lower its value-added tax (VAT) effective April 1, 2019. Few news sources have reported the shift. However, a news alert published by Dezan Shira & Associates, an Asian foreign investment firm, reported the following changes as found in China’s annual Work Report:

As of March 16, 2019  U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is requiring new information from importers. Consignees, sold to parties, and buyers are to use the newly published Create/Update Importer Identity Form, CBP Form 5106, to comply with the new data requirements.  Brokers and self-filers may submit the form

Major steamship lines intend to charge a new general rate increase (GRI) for all eastbound ocean cargo from the Far East and Indian sub-continent to all destinations in Canada and the USA. The GRI is slated to go into effect April 15, 2019, as follows: US$900 per 20’ standard container

India and Turkey will be terminated from the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program following a 60-day waiting period. With $5.6 billion of US imports in 2017, India is the biggest beneficiary of the program. Turkey is the fifth-largest participant with $1.7 billion of imported goods. A United States Trade