Brazil recently issued updated guidance that “aims to modernize and facilitate” procedures related to origin facilitation, KPMG said in a March 5 client alert. “Among other innovations,” the new guidance establishes that “an origin declaration may be presented for tariff preference purposes if provided for in the relevant trade agreement,” and also says “self-regulation (via import declarations) may be allowed for the importer, buyer or consignee, subject to certain conditions, and before [Brazil customs] initiates a procedure regarding the proof of origin,” KPMG said. The guidance also sets definitions for key terms, including proof of origin, declaration of origin and certificate of compliance.

Chile has increased tariff discounts applicable to imports of wheat, flour and meslin, according to a notice issued by the Chilean Ministry of Finance. Discounts for imports of wheat under subheadings 1001.91.00 and 1001.99.11-1001.99.99 are now set at $117.45 per ton, and discounts for imports of flour under subheading 1101.00.00 are now $183.22 per ton. They had previously been set at $91.69 and $143.04 per ton, respectively, according to Global Trade Alert. The increase took effect Feb. 16, and will remain in effect for two months.

Brazil has notified the World Trade Organization that it intends to put in place $180 million in tariffs on certain goods from the European Union in retaliation for the EU’s steel safeguards. The tariff would apply to certain goods of heading 0402 at 15%, of 0703 at 19%, of 2402 at 11%, of 4202 at 19% or 11%, of 4203 at 11%, of 6403 at 19%, of 8113 at 10%, of 8703 at 19%, of 9004 at 11%, of 9403 at 10%, of 9503 at 19%, of 9504 at 11%, of 9506 at 11%, and of 9614 at 10%. Affected goods include milk, cigars and cigarettes, jewelry, certain motor vehicles, playing cards, sports equipment, garlic, purses, apparel, footwear, sunglasses, wooden furniture and toys. Not all goods within those subheadings would be affected. The amount of the tariffs is equal to the harm Brazil says will result from an EU tariff rate quota on Brazilian steel with an out-of-quota rate of 25%. Brazil may impose the tariffs beginning 30 days after notification, which was dated Feb. 18.

Argentina Customs recently increased reference prices used to set minimum per unit valuation for imports of motorcycle helmets under subheading 6506.10.00 from a handful of countries in Asia, and added a new reference price for bicycle helmets from those countries, according to a notice in its Boletin Oficial. Reference prices for motorcycle helmets were increased to $16-$100, depending on materials used in the helmet, up from $13-$14, according to a note from Global Trade Alert. Reference prices for bicycle helmets were set at $2.82 to $4.50. The reference prices apply to merchandise from North Korean and South Korea, China, the Philippines, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, according to the notice.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency sent an AIRS update announcing that it has increased restrictions on release of certain egg products from bird species other than chickens of subheadings 0408.11.0274 and 0408.91.0278 imported for certain uses from every U.S. state except Arkansas, California, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin. The change applies to goods imported with the end uses "other end uses," "samples for testing," "scientific use (research)," and "show or exhibition," the update said.

The government of Canada recently issued the following trade-related notices for March 4 (note that some may also be given separate headlines):

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

Mexico’s Tax Administration Service’s legal support office recently clarified that, for advance clearance ocean shipments, the identifiers “DA” and “FR” should be declared to SAT, the Latin American Confederation of Customs Brokers (CLAA) said in a March 1 circular to its members. That last identifier is for operations for which the exchange rate date is prior to arrival, which is the case for advance clearance shipments because SAT requires advance duty payment, CLAA said.

Mexico’s Tax Administration Service is set to postpone the effective dates of recently issued regulations on simplified clearance for merchandise imported and exported by parcel and express couriers. Issued Nov. 30, the regulations set conditions and entry documentation requirements for simplified clearance, including tariff numbers and other information required for filing, as well as types of merchandise that are ineligible for the procedures. The regulations had been set to take effect March 1, with the exception of certain registration and information submission requirements that were to take effect July 1. A pre-publication version of a notice on the SAT website would delay these effective dates to Oct. 1, respectively. The notice has yet to be published in the Diario Oficial.