August 2016

Time to move your U.S. bound freight through Canada?

	Freighter waiting to be unloaded, an all too common site at congested U.S. ports.

In an effort to avoid congestion at U.S. ports, shippers and forwarders are moving more container traffic through Mexico and Canada. The shift is reflected in the latest figures for traffic growth, which show that both Mexico and Canada enjoyed healthy growth, 5.1% and 4.1% respectively, while U.S. ports saw only 0.8% growth, based on 2015 statistics. Considering that total North American container traffic grew by only 1.5% in 2015, this diversion of cargo is significant.

If you are shipping freight through U.S. ports and are interested in learning how you could benefit by redirecting your shipment through Canada, please contact Debbie McGuire, Manager – FreightSolutions.

Horses for Canada’s Olympic equestrian team fly "first-class"

	Learn about the first hurdle Canada’s equestrian horses had to clear – making the flight to Rio.

Transporting the horses for Canada’s equestrian team to the Olympics involved a very special process created to give our four-legged competitors the best ride possible. In total, there were three key steps: load the horses into a "box stall”; place the box stall on top of a pallet; slide the pallet into the plane and lock it down to minimize movements.

The pilots helped out as well by taking extra special care to make smooth take-offs and landings. In short, the horses got first-class treatment from start to finish – and that might just give them the small additional edge that translates into a place on thepodium.

The cheque is not in the mail

Don’t expect to receive a cheque from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for a refund or drawback of duty/GST.

Those transactions will now be handled with monthly offsets to importer account statements, just one of many ways the CBSA is changing how it does business with the commercial trade community for the better. The improvements are possible because the CBSA is replacing aging revenue and cash systems with a more modern Accounts Receivable Ledger (ARL) process that will improve service delivery by allowing more electronic interaction.

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

Must read if you export meat

Don’t complete a deal for meat exports without first confirming that your product meets all the regulations and standards of the importing country. It is also important to note that the standards for meat imports vary from country to country.

Exporting meat also poses additional restrictions, such as: Bone-In Beef (from animals over 30-months old) may not be exported to mainland China whereas Deboned Beef may be exported. Potential exporters must thoroughly review both export and import requirements to ensure shipments are not delayed and/or seized for non-compliance.

Learn more by visiting the website of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

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

Trade compliance verification priorities announced

Here is the list of business sectors that will be a priority for trade compliance verification by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in the next six months:

• Cell phone cases
• Interchangeable tools
• Mountings, fittings and similar articles
• Stone table and counter tops
• Live plants
• Prepared meat of swine
• Air brakes and parts thereof

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

Expert support for U.S. importers targeted for audit

You could be facing a comprehensive regulatory audit by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) if you import high-risk products into the U.S. or have a history of non-compliance issues.

You will know that you are being potentially targeted for audit if you receive a letter from CBP with this subject line:Distribution of Informed Compliance Publications and Other Informative Documents.The letter will include a DVD that contains a number of Informed Compliance Publications (ICP)with valuable information on entry requirements, valuation, tariff classification and country of origin. It is hoped that importers will self-correct by conducting their own internal reviews of importing practices and voluntarily disclosing any discrepancies and deficiencies.

Get started today by calling us at (905) 882-4880 and asking to speak with Brian Rowe, General Manager – Customs Consulting Services. “Most companies need help because they don’t have the staff and expertise required to complete an internal review and make the necessary disclosures,” says Mr. Rowe. “Brokers are not normally copied on this type of correspondence from CBP, so if you receive one of these letters, contact us for guidance prior to communicating withCBP.”

	This view helps explain why our mystery city attracts millions of tourists annually.

Global Spotlight Quiz

Name the mystery city

Can you name the city that moves to a very special rhythm and was once ransomed for gold and sugar? Here are a few more clues:

• About 50 kilometers of white and golden sand are just one of many reasons why the city’s largest industry is tourism
• This city was the host of the first ever Olympic games in South America
• This city is known around the world for its yearly carnival
• This city was founded in 1565 by the Portuguese
• This city is often mistaken as the country’s capital

Click here to see the answer

For more information about freight to/from this city, contact Debbie McGuire, Manager – Freight Solutions.

Quick Tip

	What should you buy to provide protection against losses resulting from cargo theft?

Cargo Liability versus Cargo Insurance

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that Cargo Liability and Cargo Insurance are the same thing. They are not. Cargo Liability is the maximum amount of liability a carrier will assume if they are determined to be 100 percent at fault which must be stated on their Bill of Lading.

Cargo Insurance is purchased by the shipper for protection against losses resulting from all perils (loss, damage, theft) and can cover more than 100% of the cargo’s value.

At Your Service: Nora Su – Customs Operations

	Nora Su – Customs Operations

Nora Su joined Universal Logistics in 2011 as a member of the Accounting team.

In 2013, Nora made the move to the Head Office Customs Operations team, where she handled courier Low Value Shipments as well as some clerical duties. One year later, she assumed responsibility for High Value Truck Shipments and expanded her professional qualifications by completing the Certified Customs Specialist (CCS) course.

Nora can be reached by phone (905) 882-4880, ext.219 or by email.