The Canada Border Services Agency postponed the system release for its new e-manifest program until Nov. 1, a July 29 email to industry said. The changes were scheduled to be implemented June 28 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CBSA said. The changes will require freight forwarders and certain carriers to “transmit advance secondary data for cargo” imported into Canada, Ocean Network Express, a container shipping company, reported. CBSA said industry will have an opportunity to “test” the changes with CBSA in early September. “Test packages will be made available, and the testing dates will be confirmed in the coming weeks,” the agency said.

Fees on imported vehicles “required to be registered with the Registrar of Imported Vehicles,” will increase on Aug. 1, the Canada Border Services Agency said in a July 23 customs notice. The fee increases apply to imports using “a Vehicle Import Form - Form 1" or “Vehicle Imported for Parts Form - Form 3,” it said.

Canada will remove trade barriers that hinder imports of Australian wine into the Canadian market, including in Ontario and Nova Scotia, Australia’s trade ministry said July 27. Australia said Canada’s “discriminatory measures” had disadvantaged Australian exporters for a “number” of years, and the lifted restrictions will lead to “increased access” for Australian wine exports. “Removing these trade barriers will mean our wine exporters can now compete on a level playing field with Canadian wine producers,” said Simon Birmingham, minister for trade, tourism and investment. Australia said it will continue to push Canada to lift import restrictions in Quebec, where trade barriers remain.

The Canada government issued the following trade-related notice as of July 22:

CBP will extend its travel restrictions on the northern and southern borders through Aug. 20, it said in a two notices released July 21. The travel restrictions were to expire July 21 (see 2006220016). The travel bans do not apply to cargo, and exempt crossing the border from Canada or Mexico to work in the U.S.

The Canada government issued the following trade-related notice as of July 20:

The Canada government issued the following trade-related notice as of July 17:

The U.S. and Paraguay signed an updated Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement that expands “the ability to share information and strengthens trade facilitation efforts and enforcement capabilities,” CBP said in an emailed July 14 news release. “This revised agreement is a key component to further enhancing our partnership with Paraguay,” CBP Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan said. “The CMAA demonstrates our bilateral commitment to preventing and investigating crimes associated with goods crossing our borders, while simultaneously facilitating legitimate trade.” This CMAA replaces the version that was signed in 2002. Under the revised version, “information exchanged under the agreement may now be used in criminal proceedings by both parties,” CBP said. The U.S. has CMAAs with 82 countries, it said.

The Canada government issued the following trade-related notices as of July 15 (some may also be given separate headlines):

The Canada government issued the following trade-related notices as of July 13 (some may also be given separate headlines):