“Every organization at the border needs to follow certain success factors for seamless collaboration through an intelligence-led approach by using technology and analytics that can filter right data, as well as mobile real-time inspection processes that increase speed and value of information at the point of trade,” said Brian Moran, Global Managing Director, Public Services [...]
“Every organization at the border needs to follow certain success factors for seamless collaboration through an intelligence-led approach by using technology and analytics that can filter right data, as well as mobile real-time inspection processes that increase speed and value of information at the point of trade,” said Brian Moran, Global Managing Director, Public Services Operations and Management, Accenture, in his keynote speech on the second day of the 2013 WCO IT Conference and Exhibition.
Moran added: “One of the main issues with the customs procedures is not the lack of information, but the ability to access data.” In addition, he emphasized the need to implement digital technology in customs processes at a time when electronic is fast becoming the preferred mode of doing business.
Offering the opening comments at the first roundtable for the day, Des Vertannes, Global Head of Cargo, International Air Transport Association (IATA), said: “E-commerce, aviation security, trade management and sustainability are the collective factors that define efficiency in coordinated border management (CBM).”
Highlighting areas of collaboration with International Air Transport Association (IATA) for achieving global harmonization of border management procedures, Vertannes said: “We have been working with WCO and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to develop long-term solutions in air cargo and border-trade cargo management. With increasing volumes, programs such as the US CVP pilot edition that offers advanced screening options help to manage air cargo and reduce duplication of paper-based data management.”
Vertannes added: “Solutions such as the e-Freight program link the entire consortium of consigners and consignees with the customs department in a seamless, paperless process. This also allows stakeholders to identify data required by border agencies well in advance. e-Freight is currently available in 462 airports globally; our goal is to implement the program in 80 per cent of airports by 2015. We also have devised the consignment security declaration which can be used to electronically transmit information, such as who has supplied the cargo, when and how, making it ideal to ensure security during border-trade.”
In preparation for operating under sequestration, CBP has redirected resources toward only the most critical, core functions and has discontinued or postponed certain important but less critical activities in an effort to reduce budget expenditures. The mandated across-the-board spending cuts took effect on March 1, 2013. The cuts tied to the sequestration will be made [...]
In preparation for operating under sequestration, CBP has redirected resources toward only the most critical, core functions and has discontinued or postponed certain important but less critical activities in an effort to reduce budget expenditures.
The mandated across-the-board spending cuts took effect on March 1, 2013. The cuts tied to the sequestration will be made equally across the agency, with no preference by port of arrival. The first, immediate cuts will reduce overtime beginning March 1st, and personnel furloughs may begin in mid-April. CBP managers at the field offices and ports of entry conducted an in-depth analysis of their operations to identify any current activities, duties, and hours of operation that could be adjusted to mitigate the impact of the significant reductions in expenditures mandated by the sequester.
However, given the magnitude of the reductions, CBP currently estimates that there may potentially be delays up to several hours at land border crossings, passenger processing times may increase by about 50%, and there may be up to an additional five days added to cargo inspections at ocean ports of entry.
Once furloughs commence, there may be more risk-based adjustments made regarding other inspections, with less impact to trusted travelers and trusted traders. There could be some eventual delays in providing advice and rulings. Additionally, strategic initiatives such as the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and the rollout of the Centers of Excellence and Expertise (CEE) may be impacted. Continue reading »
First annual progress reports issued on the Beyond the Border and Regulatory Cooperation Council Action Plans Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Barack Obama, President of the United States, today welcomed the release of the first annual Beyond the Border Action Plan Implementation Report and the Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) Joint Action Plan Progress [...]
First annual progress reports issued on the Beyond the Border and Regulatory Cooperation Council Action Plans
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Barack Obama, President of the United States, today welcomed the release of the first annual Beyond the Border Action Plan Implementation Report and the Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) Joint Action Plan Progress Report, which demonstrate progress made by Canada and the United States on perimeter security and economic competitiveness.
“Today’s reports demonstrate real and substantive progress on improving the management of our shared border and improving regulatory cooperation, both of which will improve the flow of people and goods between our countries,” said the Prime Minister. “The Beyond the Border and the Regulatory Cooperation Council Action Plans are laying the foundation for more jobs and growth in Canada and the United States by making it easier for firms in both countries to do business.”
The Beyond the Border and RCC Action Plans, announced by both leaders on December 7, 2011, set out ambitious milestones designed to advance economic opportunity, improve regulatory cooperation and enhance security between our two countries. Since then, significant progress has been made, including modernizing our joint border management, the development of the first joint Border Infrastructure Investment Plan, the release of a joint Cybersecurity Action Plan, improvements to the NEXUS trusted traveller program, mutual recognition of our air cargo security programs, and the development of joint standards and greater alignment of regulatory systems.
As the action plans continue to be implemented, the Government of Canada will keep Canadians informed of progress, including through the issuing of progress reports.
Both reports are available here.
The Canada Border Services Agency announced Dec. 7 the launch of a pilot program at the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia, Ontario, that aims to further speed the clearance of cargo at the U.S.-Canada border for trusted traders. Under this six-month test companies will be able to use the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) lanes [...]
The Canada Border Services Agency announced Dec. 7 the launch of a pilot program at the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia, Ontario, that aims to further speed the clearance of cargo at the U.S.-Canada border for trusted traders. Under this six-month test companies will be able to use the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) lanes and booths at this bridge if they are members of either the Partners in Protection or Customs Self-Assessment program, not both as previously required. The CBSA states that if this pilot is successful the change may be permanently implemented at all three ports where FAST is currently available.
Source: STR Trade Report
Click here to read the complete press release from the Canadian Government.
While controls on commercial imports at the border are generally working, they need to be better monitored, says Michael Ferguson, the Auditor General of Canada, in his 2012 Spring Report. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) works with other federal organizations to ensure that consumer goods entering Canada conform with Canadian laws and regulations. “We [...]
While controls on commercial imports at the border are generally working, they need to be better monitored, says Michael Ferguson, the Auditor General of Canada, in his 2012 Spring Report. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) works with other federal organizations to ensure that consumer goods entering Canada conform with Canadian laws and regulations.
“We know the controls are generally working because we tested them, not because the responsible departments were able to tell us so,” said Mr. Ferguson. “The Canada Border Services Agency and other departments need to be better at monitoring of their controls at the border.”
According to the Agency, it processed 13 million shipments of commercial products in 2010–11, about 4 million of which were subject to federal import controls.
Some goods examined in the audit were allowed to enter the country even though they did not meet their import requirements. These were most often goods for which Health Canada is responsible, but for which there is no agreement with the CBSA explaining how border services officers should identify and deal with the goods.
The audit also found that border lookouts and examinations—controls reserved for shipments that are considered higher risk—need to be better managed. In 40 percent of cases reviewed by the audit, the results of examinations were incorrectly or incompletely recorded. The CBSA does not keep a record of how many shipments are stopped as a result of border lookouts. These gaps in monitoring make it difficult to determine whether the controls are working as intended.
“We looked at a sample of import transactions over a limited period. Knowing whether border controls continue to work as intended will require better monitoring on an ongoing basis,” said Mr. Ferguson.
Last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Canada Border Services Agency hosted a Bi-National Commercial Town Hall with stakeholders to discuss the joint U.S.-Canada declaration of a shared approach to security, the Beyond the Border Action Plan. Officials from both sides of the border were present alongside Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Deputy Commissioner [...]
Last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Canada Border Services Agency hosted a Bi-National Commercial Town Hall with stakeholders to discuss the joint U.S.-Canada declaration of a shared approach to security, the Beyond the Border Action Plan. Officials from both sides of the border were present alongside Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Deputy Commissioner Winkowski and Canada Border Services Agency President Luc Portelance.
The stakeholder meetings on Feb. 28 and 29 in Niagara Falls gathered input regarding trade and commercial cross-border activity. Topics covered included the Integrated Cargo Security Strategy (ICCS); Advanced Data Requirement and Perimeter Screening of Cargo; the Single Window Initiative; Harmonizing Low Value Shipment processes; and the Advance Trade Data (eManifest) initiatives.
“The Beyond the Border agreement forged by President Obama and Prime Minister Harper is about strengthening and expediting trade and travel between our countries,” said U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Deputy Commissioner, Thomas Winkowski. “It’s about finding common-sense solutions to our most complicated problems. And it’s about extending national security for both of our nations, well away from the border.”
“As these joint meetings with stakeholders indicate, we are committed to working with our U.S. partners to bring about greater consistency, efficiency and predictability in the management of our shared border,” said CBSA President Portelance. “We understand that business operates in a world where time is money, and where deadlines are vital to integrated, cross-border supply chains. That is why we continue to involve our stakeholders in the implementation of the Beyond the Border Action Plan initiatives to keep the border open to lawful travel and trade.”
As a key player in discussions on any border-related changes, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) participated in the Border Commercial Consultative Committee (BCCC) along with members of Canada’s trade community. “I am encouraged by the discussions held this week on the implementation of the Border Action Plan,” said Jennifer Fox, CTA’s vice-president of Customs and compliance.
The Beyond the Border Action Plan consists of 32 separate initiatives. It calls for enhancements to the benefits of programs that help trusted businesses and travelers move efficiently across the border; introduces new measures to facilitate movement and trade across the border while reducing the administrative burden for business; and invests in improvements to our shared border infrastructure and technology. By expediting lawful trade and commerce into and across our shared border, the U.S. and Canada seek to enhance their economic competitiveness, create jobs and support economic growth.
David Jacobson, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada sat down recently with TVO’s Steve Paikin to discuss his role as Ambassador and the new border agreement between Canada and the United States. Source: Television Ontario
David Jacobson, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada sat down recently with TVO’s Steve Paikin to discuss his role as Ambassador and the new border agreement between Canada and the United States.
Source: Television Ontario
Jason Myers, President and CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters When Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama announced their shared vision for perimeter security and economic competitiveness in February, many people immediately wrote off the exercise as another in a long line of attempts to “fix” border irritants between our countries. This was [...]
Jason Myers, President and CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
When Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama announced their shared vision for perimeter security and economic competitiveness in February, many people immediately wrote off the exercise as another in a long line of attempts to “fix” border irritants between our countries.
This was the fifth similar effort in the past dozen years, starting with the shared border declarations in the late 1990s, the 32-point action plan in 2001, the Security and Prosperity Partnership of 2005 and the North American Competitiveness Council of 2007. To be blunt, these efforts produced some results, but didn’t succeed in solving the real challenges businesses on both sides of the border face in their day-to-day operations.
The costs of bad regulatory and antiquated border policies are too significant to ignore. They cost Canada five per cent of GDP every year – that’s more than $50 billion out of the pockets of consumers. Furthermore, they reduce corporate investment in employees, productive capacity, and innovation.
Why are the costs so extreme? Canadian and US manufacturers don’t simply trade with each other; we build things together. Cars, food products, telecommunications equipment, steel and metal products, are just some of the goods that Canadian and Americans manufacture together and use to compete together in global markets.
That’s the good news.
These component parts however cross our border multiple times before a finished product is ready for retail.
While integration has increased substantially since the signing of 1988 FTA, the regulatory system has not kept up with the business realities. Product regulations and border processes today are often rooted in an economic reality from 50 years ago. Despite integrated manufacturing, many products cannot be designed, tested and built for sale in both countries all as a result of slight differences in regulatory standards.
That’s the bad news.
Over the past decade, Ottawa and Washington have demanded more information about every component of products crossing our border, a demand that is often multiple, repetitive and costly. At the same time, foreign produced goods – our competition both in this marketplace and globally – face no such hurdles. Goods are typically manufactured within a single jurisdiction where finished products are imported into Canada or the US with a single customs compliance and security process, dramatically reducing costs for production and ultimately, the price for consumers.
On February 4, the leaders set out a very ambitious, yet straightforward objective – improve “perimeter” security against third-country threats while accelerating the legitimate flow of people, goods and services between our two countries. Improvements were to be measured through real, bottom-line results for companies and less congestion at our border.
Throughout this process, and based on the feedback from our member companies, we have worked in both capitals to define what we believe is the way forward.
Agility and time are the currency of today’s new normal, and businesses need regulations that allow companies to invest and grow, not whither and die.
We don’t need smart regulation – we need common-sense harmonization that includes a single electronic window to report necessary information; a system where business travellers cross our border with minimum hassle and a system where border agencies put the word “trust” back into trusted trader programs.
Past efforts on our border have simply not been enough. The challenges our members face in continental North America are now greater than ever. Free trade agreements will bring even more competition for our products.
Our members can compete on product quality and reliability, but we cannot compete when archaic rules and misinformed border policies are a competitive disadvantage and stifle the successes of our integration.
It’s time we manufactured our future together. It’s time we move forward and bring the Canada-US partnership into the 21st century. Jobs on both sides of the 49th parallel depend on it. The clock is ticking.
Jayson Myers is the president and CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters – the country’s largest industry and trade association.
Canada’s new border deal with the United States could lead to fewer missed connections at the airport, more American law-enforcement officials working on Canadian soil, harmonized U.S. standards for prescription drugs, new names for cuts of meat and fewer inspections of food cargo as both governments strive to ensure better information sharing and less red [...]
Canada’s new border deal with the United States could lead to fewer missed connections at the airport, more American law-enforcement officials working on Canadian soil, harmonized U.S. standards for prescription drugs, new names for cuts of meat and fewer inspections of food cargo as both governments strive to ensure better information sharing and less red tape for companies trying to get their goods and people across the largest land border in the world.
The wide-ranging Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness Action Plan was described by Prime Minister Stephen Harper Wednesday as the most significant step forward in Canada-U.S. co-operation since the North American Free Trade Agreement.
For cargo from overseas, the U.S and Canadian governments hope to de-clutter the border by screening goods only once — when they first arrive.
Two pilot projects in Prince Rupert and Montreal will be launched in 2012. Shipments coming from overseas will only be screened on arrival and won’t be inspected on subsequent border crossings unless absolutely necessary. If the pilot projects work, single screening will become the new norm.
For businesses, other pilot projects are being developed, such as a pre-inspection of cargo carried on trains, which will begin in September. Another year-long project will involve issuing advance clearance for trucks carrying fresh meat.
The governments will also move to eliminate red tape. For example, an American firm wanting to import fridges currently has to file paperwork with nine government departments, in the future all those applications will be filed through one website.
The trade compliance implications of the new border deal for importers and exporters will doubtless be many and varied as aspects of the sweeping initiative are progressively implemented in future. A number of key features of the 29-point deal — including an accord on regulatory reform — are estimated to still be three to four years away from practical realization.
Related Information:
• Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness Action Plan
• Fact sheet from the White House
(CME – Steve Coleman) Twenty-three American industry associations have thrown their support behind a joint Canada-U.S. bid to build a better border. In a July 19 letter to Dan Restrepo, White House lead for the Beyond the Border Working Group, industry leaders encouraged American negotiators to support six key recommendations raised by the Business for [...]
(CME – Steve Coleman)
Twenty-three American industry associations have thrown their support behind a joint Canada-U.S. bid to build a better border.
In a July 19 letter to Dan Restrepo, White House lead for the Beyond the Border Working Group, industry leaders encouraged American negotiators to support six key recommendations raised by the Business for Better Borders (B3) coalition.
The Beyond the Border Working Group was launched last February by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama to try and improve international trade.
“These names are industries that are integrated in Canada and the U.S.,” said Birgit Matthiesen, CME’s special advisor on U.S. affairs. “When politicians are looking at the border, they need to look at that list. They represent millions of workers.” To date, most of the American attention on border concerns and problems is focused south on Mexico. Canada doesn’t seem to fit into the equation very often, she said.
U.S. businesses hope to grab a little of the attention by putting their names at the bottom of the letter.
Recommendations supported in the letter suggest Canada and the U.S. should:
• Create a harmonized system of border operations that separates traffic and reporting
requirements based on levels of investment and risk;
• Harmonize and expand trusted trader programs, like Canada’s Customs Self Assessment (CSA)
program, that demonstrate a clear return on investment for both government and industry;
• Align regulations and regulatory reporting processes, including government-wide single window
reporting, across government agencies and departments;
• Implement coordinated U.S.-Canada perimeter border security and processing requirements;
• Expand and improve the existing trade infrastructure; and
• Reduce barriers to the movement of business personnel.
Among the signatories are the National Association of Manufacturers, Public Border Operators Association and the National Foreign Trade Council.
The steering committee, including CME, presented its support to Canadian negotiator Simon Kennedy about a month ago.
(CFIB) Research conducted by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) with the assistance of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and the participation of the U.S. Embassy (Ottawa) reveals a number of challenges and obstacles small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) must overcome in order to be able to successfully conduct business across the [...]
(CFIB)
Research conducted by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) with the assistance of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and the participation of the U.S. Embassy (Ottawa) reveals a number of challenges and obstacles small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) must overcome in order to be able to successfully conduct business across the border.
Earlier this year, Canada and the U.S. issued a declaration on the countries’ shared border. The objective of the pact was to ‘streamline and decongest’ the Canada-U.S. border, as well as find ways to reduce and prevent regulatory barriers to cross-border trade. A high-level commitment to improving the efficiency of the border will reduce the costs of doing business, enhance security and facilitate trade. “A Canada-U.S. border that is more effective, secure and trade-friendly will increase Canadian competiveness and create jobs on both sides of the border,” stated CFIB vice president, national affairs, Corinne Pohlmann. Continue reading »
Does your Trade Strategy prepare you for these upcoming changes?
(Whitehouse.gov)
President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper hold a joint press conference and take questions from the media on various subjects, including trade and the current situation on Egypt. February 4, 2011.
Related: Breaking Down Borders: Canada-U.S. Trade and Security (Globe & Mail)
