The Public Health Agency of Canada said that workers who are essential for the movement of goods and people, such as truck drivers, railroaders, flight crews and mariners, will still be allowed to cross into Canada without having to self-isolate after arrival. “These workers are asked to closely self-monitor, and self-isolate immediately should they exhibit any symptoms. It is recommended that employers in these sectors conduct active daily monitoring of their staff for COVID-19 symptoms,” the Canadian government said.
The Canada Border Services Agency will now allow 120 days to submit corrections “following a CBSA trade compliance verification where errors were found,” the CBSA said in a customs notice.
The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of March 18 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):
The U.S. and Canada will jointly be closing the border to travelers between the countries, but not cargo, President Donald Trump said in a March 18 tweet. “We will be, by mutual consent, temporarily closing our Northern Border with Canada to non-essential traffic,” he said. “Trade will not be affected. Details to follow!”
The Canada Border Services Agency will allow for duty-free treatment for goods imported in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it said in a customs notice. The Goods for Emergency Use Remission Order “in conjunction with Tariff Item No. 9993.00.00 allows for the relief of duty and tax for goods required for an emergency and are imported by or on behalf of federal, provincial or municipal entities involved such as centres for health care as well as by or on behalf of members of first response organizations such as police, fire and local civil defence groups, including medical response teams,” it said. Such goods “shall be exported from Canada whenever they are no longer required except goods that are consumed or destroyed during the emergency,” the CBSA said. “The requirement to export does not apply if the goods are permanently imported with applicable duties and taxes paid.” The goods may be subject to examination and verification, it said.
The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of March 16 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):
The auto industry publicly asked the Trump administration not to rush into certifying readiness for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement's entry into force, given the fact that “a global pandemic is significantly disrupting our supply chains, and the industry is throwing all available resources into managing production through this crisis for our employees and for the broader U.S. economy.”
The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of March 13 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):
Canada's House of Commons approved the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement -- called CUSMA in Canada -- by unanimous consent March 13, before adjourning until April 20 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Canadian Senate passed it less than an hour later. Royal Assent, the equivalent of a presidential signature in the U.S., followed shortly, and the Senate adjourned as well. Now, all three countries must continue to work on uniform regulations so that they can certify the treaty is ready to enter into force. Efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease COVID-19 may slow that process, because the countries also have to evaluate the progress toward fulfilling commitments, such as setting up labor courts in Mexico and getting new rules of origin processes in place. Once that certification is issued, NAFTA will be replaced on the first day of the third month after the announcement.
Argentina updated its export tax regime this month for certain agricultural products, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service report released March 9. The changes, announced March 4, increased export tax rates from 30% to 33% for soybeans and soybean products, the USDA said, while wheat, corn and sorghum export rates remained at 12%. Other goods, including corn flour, paddy rice, peanuts and sunflower seeds saw decreases in their export tax rates.