The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a summary of Plant Health Import Requirements for Temperate Fresh Fruit Approved for Entry into Canada.
On September 20, 2010, the President of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) made a final determination of dumping on greenhouse bell peppers originating in or exported from the Netherlands that are usually classified under Harmonized System classification number: 0709.60.90.10.
The World Trade Organization announces that the Committee on Trade and Development has approved a proposal by Brazil, China, India and the U.S. to establish a transparency mechanism for preferential trade arrangements. India, Brazil and China reported on their programs to provide duty-free, quota-free market access to least-developed countries. The proposal is to be transmitted to the General Council for adoption.
On October 4, 2010, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada reported on International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan's speech on expanding international trade, particularly with the Asia-Pacific region. “Free trade is a pathway to strong economies, and our government is committed to pursuing an aggressive and ambitious free trade agenda that will create jobs in Canada and lead to prosperity for economies at various stages of development,” said Van Loan.
The Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) announces that in a visit to the ASEAN Secretariat, a delegation from the Office of Thailand Trade Representative stated that the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) has enabled the ASEAN-6 -- Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand -- to import and export almost all goods across their borders at no tariff. The representative stated that the entry into force of AFTA is one of ASEAN’s tangible achievements in the economic front this year, taking the region one step closer to building an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/15/10 news, 10011599 #6, for BP summary of the AFTA's entry into force on January 1, 2010.)
The World Customs Organization announces that the SAFE package is now online, which includes tools to secure and facilitate global trade that have been compiled into one convenient package to ensure ready access for WCO Members and Customs’ stakeholders.
The World Customs Organization has issued a press release announcing that a transnational operation coordinated by the WCO and INTERPOL targeting organized criminal counterfeiting networks across 13 countries in South America has resulted in more than 600 arrests and the seizure of fake goods worth $50 million U.S. dollars.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission will hold a fifth review session for its 2010 Annual Report from October 12-14, 2010. These sessions are open to the public.
In the October 1, 2010 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related notices were posted:
The European Commission reports that around 40 million cigarettes, 1,243 kg of hand-rolled tobacco, 7,038 liters of alcohol and 8 million other counterfeit items including clothing, shoes, toys and electronics, were seized under “Operation Sirocco,” a customs operation coordinated by the European Anti-Fraud Office in June 2010.