Importers in Mexico that use the Secretary of Economy’s “PROSEC” sectoral promotion program must file annual reports in April or risk losing their benefits under the program, said Mexican law firm Consorcio Juridico Aduanero in a bulletin sent by email March 19. Importers that don’t submit the report, which includes data on national and export sales, will be included on a list of importers published by the Secretary of Economy for which PROSEC import benefits are suspended for the month of May, CJ Aduanero said. If the report is not submitted by the last day of June, the Secretary of Economy will permanently end the importer’s participation in the program.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will revise its requirements for importing koi from the U.S. starting April 15, the agency said in a March 22 notice to industry. All imports of live Koi carp from the U.S. for aquarium and outdoor holding unit end uses will require a valid CFIA import permit and a U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service export certificate, the CFIA said. "Koi carp can no longer be included on the same import permit as other aquatic ornamental species and will require a separate permit," the agency said. Also starting on April 15 "import documentation for live Koi carp imported from the U.S. for aquarium or outdoor holding unit end uses must be reviewed by the National Import Service Centre (NISC)," it said. "Prior to arrival at the first port of entry, all relevant documentation must be submitted to the NISC."

According to Reuters, Brazil's farm minister said the tariff-rate quota for wheat imports that was agreed to during Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's Washington visit this week (see 1903190056) was for all global wheat exporters, not exclusively the U.S.

Recent editions of Mexico's Diario Oficial list trade-related notices as follows:

The Canada Border Services Agency said maintenance outages are scheduled for the eManifest Portal, the Electronic Data Interchange and the CCS/CADEX system. There will be multiple outages to those systems on March 23 and March 24, CBSA said in an emailed message. CBSA suggested that filers review the contingency procedures during the outages and that highway carriers have paperwork if going to the border. While the CCS/CADEX system is unavailable, "Customs Declaration Message (CUSDEC) B3s and AO notification of release queries transmitted to the CADEX system will be affected," CBSA said.

Agreements on trade in cars and light passenger vehicles between Mexico and Argentina and Mexico and Brazil took effect March 19, according to a release from the Mexican Secretary of Economy. For Argentina, beginning in 2019, quotas will rise annually starting at 10 percent in the first year, and 5 percent each year in the second and third years. For Brazil, trade will begin March 19 with an “ICR” of 40 percent, with work continuing on a new formula for the quota, Mexico said.

The government of Canada recently issued the following trade-related notices as of March 20 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):

The U.S. and Brazil will initiate a mutual recognition agreement for trusted trader programs between the two countries at the instructions of President Donald Trump and President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil, the White House said in a March 19 announcement. An MRA "will reduce costs for American and Brazilian companies," it said. Brazil will also "implement a tariff rate quota, allowing for the annual importation of 750 thousand tons of American wheat at zero rate," the White House said. The U.S. will also "expeditiously schedule a technical visit" by the Food Safety and Inspection Service "to audit Brazil’s raw beef inspection system, as soon as it is satisfied with Brazil’s food safety documentation," the White House said. "Commensurate with its status as a global leader, President Bolsonaro agreed that Brazil will begin to forgo special and differential treatment in World Trade Organization negotiations, in line with the United States proposal," the White House said.

The government of Canada recently issued the following trade-related notices for March 18 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):

There are two situations that require payment for "B2 payment," the Canada Border Services Agency said in an emailed reminder. When a Detailed Adjustment Statement is issued, "Importers/Brokers can make a payment at the Port, or they can make a payment online," CBSA said. "If the payment is made online, the importer/broker must send an email" to CBSA-ASFC_CARM.GCRA@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca and "provide the BN15, B2 number(s), the amount owing on the B2, and the payment amount and payment date is needed." When no DAS is issued yet, "Importers/Brokers must make their payment at the Port. The Cashiers will code the payment in ARL to identify it as a pre-paid B2," it said. "When the B2 posts to the account the payment will automatically match to it."