On April 4, 2019, in response to a reporter’s question, President Trump told reporters and others attending a White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council meeting that he would not take any action to close the US-Mexico border
On March 6, 2019, Mexico’s Tax Administration (SAT), issued Fact Sheet No. 8 announcing that as of June 30, 2019, transmissions of airway bills and manifests via the VUCEM (single window) in accordance with Foreign Trade Rules 1.9.10. and 1.9.17 must meet certain requirements or the companies will be subject to penalties.
On March 6, 2019, Mexico’s Tax Administration (SAT), which oversees the Customs Service, announced that beginning March 11, 2019, it will test the electronic transmission of air cargo manifests via VUCEM (the single window) for goods entering bonded facilities. The transmission must follow Rule 1.9.10 of the Foreign Trade Rules and include the number of the bonded facility (Recinto Fiscalizado) according to Appendix 6 of Annex 22 published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación…
On 21 February, 2019, the Department for International Trade (DIT) issued guidance entitled, Existing trade agreements if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, which sets out the status of those agreements (free trade agreements, economic partnership agreements, association agreements and customs union) that may not be in place by exit day. It also links to trade agreements that have been signed and mutual recognition agreements that have been signed.
On January 19, 2019, Global Affairs Canada reported that the inaugural Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Commission meeting was successfully concluded. The CPTPP Commission, consisting of representatives from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam (the countries for which the CPTPP has entered into force), met in Tokyo, Japan and concluded their session by issuing a Ministerial statement. The Commission meeting allowed CPTPP countries to chart a course for next steps as well as agree on a framework for the accession of new members. The Ministerial Statement follows:
On 12 November 2018, the Vietnam National Assembly ratified the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (“CPTPP”), which came into effect on 30 December 2018 for the first six ratifying Members and on 14 January 2019 for Vietnam.
On 30 December 2018, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP or TPP-11) will enter into force for Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore. On 14 January 2019, the TPP-11 will enter into force for Vietnam. DHA Notice № 2018/37 summarises the implementation for goods.
On December 5, 2018, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) issued Customs Notice 18-22 Implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which announces that the CPTPP will be implemented in Canada, Australia, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore on December 30, 2018. Additionally, the Agreement will enter into force for Vietnam on January 14, 2019. With the exception of a few agricultural goods, the CPTPP will essentially eliminate the customs duties on all qualifying imports into Canada from a country for which the CPTPP is in force (“CPTPP country”), either immediately upon implementation of the agreement, or through a tariff phase-out. At the time of issuance of CN 18-22, not all CPTPP member countries will have completed their domestic ratification process and identified an implementation date. As the remaining CPTPP member countries reach ratification and confirm an implementation date, a separate customs notice will be issued. The text of the CPTPP is available at the Global Affairs website.
On November 30, 2018, the United States, Mexico, Canada signed a new trade agreement (referred to by the US as the USMCA) intended to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. It is understood that at the signing ceremony, US President Trump, Mexican President Peña Nieto and the Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau signed an authorization for Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, US Trade Representative Bob Lighthizer, and Mexican Secretary of the Economy Ildefonso Guajardo to sign the actual agreement. The agreement was signed by the outgoing Mexican administration on President Peña Nieto’s last day in office.
On 12 November 2018 the Vietnam National Assembly officially ratified the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (“CPTPP”). The agreement has already been ratified by Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore and it will enter into force on 30 December 2018 in those countries.