Introducing Forward Thinking –
a new strategy that will save you money

	Taking control of freight service spending is the best way to achieve savings that can add up to thousands of dollars – or more.

Forward Thinking starts with the simple premise of taking control of your freight. This is achieved by buying (or selling) on IncoTerms that allow you to choose the freight service that best meets your needs (service reliability, transit times and costs) through a service provider that answers to you.

Universal gets involved much earlier in the supply chain by monitoring all (foreign/offshore) purchase orders. During this time, we identify and map out potential consolidation opportunities, with an eye to saving our clients freight costs while meeting the required delivery times. In addition, we analyze your product flow to ensure your procurement efforts and logistics processes work in unison.

How do our clients save money?

1. You save money by avoiding the mark ups that are common when you allow your supplier to control the freight.
2. You save even more because your freight transit times are optimized, which means that you don't overpay for expedited freight when your schedule allows for a lower-cost service alternative.
3. You save again by taking advantage of the consolidation opportunities that we bring to your attention. Combining multiple orders from various vendors without compromising your delivery schedule makes sense.

Forward Thinking might not be the answer for all our clients – but it is a proven strategy for those clients that ship freight regularly and the savings can quickly add up to several thousand dollars – or more.

You know the value of thinking ahead. So why settle for a traditional freight forwarding service when you could have Forward Thinking, an all-new approach to freight forwarding, available exclusively from Universal Logistics.

For more information, contact Mark Glionna, Vice President – Client Relations.

Can the best freight forwarding service for book publishers
get even better? Yes

	Chris Barnard (far right) is all business at a meeting of BookFreight members, held in Paris, France, last December.

Chris Barnard was on the road again this past December to attend a meeting in Paris, France, organized for members of BookFreight, a worldwide network of freight forwarders who specialize in the book trade.

Judging by the agenda, the members will soon have even more to offer book publishers:

• Companies in India and Brazil have applied for membership, proof positive that BookFreight is growing their worldwide coverage for the book industry.
• Members are planning their participation in all of the major international book fairs worldwide, an important step that ensures BookFreight members are aware of the book industry's challenges and opportunities.
• Marketing plans are being developed to create increased awareness of how BookFreight can help book publishers reduce freight costs and optimize transit times.

"It was a great meeting with a lot of excitement about what is coming next for BookFreight," says Chris Barnard.

Universal Logistics is a founding member of BookFreight and the sole representative from Canada. Other members come from Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Spain, France, U.K.

For more information, contact Chris Barnard, Vice President – Projects & Market Development.

Trade talks with India moving forward

	New trade agreement with India expected to have $6 billion impact.

The latest round of talks between Canada and India on the formation of a new trade agreement was completed December 16, 2011 in Delhi, India.

"A Canada-India trade agreement has the potential to boost Canada's economy and create jobs and economic prosperity," says The Honourable Ed Fast, Canada's Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway.

It's estimated that the economic boost could be as much as $6 billion with most of the growth happening in the follow sectors: primary agriculture, resources, chemicals, transport equipment, machinery, equipment and services.

For more information, contact Brian Rowe, General Manager – Customs Consulting Services.

Behind the scenes work ensures customs tariff updates are incorporated in client import database

Have you looked online recently at your import database (Client Tariff Resume), provided as a value-added service to all of our Canadian customs brokerage clients?

It has undergone some significant alterations to incorporate the 11,077 tariff changes made necessary by 220 tariff amendments in the following categories: agriculture (98); chemicals (27); paper (9); textiles (14); base metals (5); machinery (30) and other sectors (37).

There are two key changes:

• Introduction of "for use in Canadian manufactures" classifications that reduce duty to 0% on a variety of metal goods.
• A new classification for bolts, nuts, screws and gaskets for plastics, which reduces the duty from 6.5% to 0.

If you need a client access password, please visit our web site to apply, or contact Danielle Adair, Manager – Customs Consulting Services for more information on the updated tariffs.

What imported commodities are subject to
anti-dumping duties?

Domestic producers in Canada and the U.S. are protected by anti-dumping duties (subject to some exclusions) ranging from 3% to 240%. Click on the links below to see the goods that are protected in each country:

For more information, contact Brian Rowe, General Manager – Customs Consulting Services.

Is your product targeted for compliance verification?

Do you know what pet toys, seaweed and safety headgear all have in common? They have been targeted for compliance verification by the Canada Border Service Agency. The complete list, released earlier this month, is available in English and French.

The next update will be issued shortly after July 1, 2012.

For more information, contact Brian Rowe, General Manager – Customs Consulting Services.