June 26, 2019 – In an escalation of the tense diplomatic relationships between Canada and China, China has now banned all Canadian meat products from being imported into its country due to irregularities found in CFIA issued inspection certificates. Canaan Transport has already put in contingency plans for our export customers who have been affected by this change in policy, which was anticipated for some time. Customers have already been personally advised of alternative arrangements.
June 24, 2019 – In developing news, Taiwan’s largest airline, EVA Airways has cancelled close to 1000 flights as a result of crew cabin strike. We will rebook customers with affected cargo on other airlines as required.
June 24, 2019 – Last week, the Mexican Senate voted 114-to-4 to approve the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, thereby concluding the USMCA’s legislative consideration process in Mexico. Following the vote, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador urged Canada and the U.S. to ratify the deal, but while those two countries kicked off their respective domestic ratification processes last month the outlook for quick ratification appears a bit more clouded in the U.S. With the current tension in Iran occupying world headlines, it appears that any such ratification in the U.S. will require immense focus and hard work.
June 17, 2019 – Canada’s long-awaited electronic logging device (ELD) rule has been published, which the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) says will catapult Canada ahead of the U.S. in terms of safety and compliance. The made-in-Canada regulation requires third-party device certification, something the U.S. did not pursue, and a detail the Canadian trucking industry lobbied to have included. In the U.S., devices are self-certified, which has led to the arrival in the market of ELDs that can be modified or tampered with. The rule was announced by government and industry officials at a press briefing at Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) headquarters on June 13. Officials said the new rule will be introduced nationally as soon as possible. By June 2021, third-party-certified ELDs will have to be used by all truck drivers currently required to maintain a logbook. The announcement was greeted with enthusiasm by industry associations. The hours-of-service rules themselves will not be changed; they’ll simply have to be recorded using an ELD. Canaan Transport’s trucks are already compliant with the new standards. The final rule also accelerates the implementation timeframe, from the initially proposed four years, to two. But unlike in the U.S., existing automatic on-board recording devices will not be grandfathered.
June 17, 2019 – Due to the scheduled parade today for the Toronto Raptors, many streets will be closed to vehicular traffic along the parade route. As a result, our pickups and deliveries within the downtown core of Toronto will be delayed today. We thank you for your patience.
June 12, 2019 – The Maritime Employers Association (MEA) has released the following communication regarding the ongoing negotiation of the collective agreement between the Maritime Employers Association and the Longshoremen’s Union, CUPE Local 375, which expired on December 31, 2018. As of June 6, 2019, and since the previous communication, there have been seven mediation meetings between the MEA and the Union. Meetings are expected in the month of June 2019 and the parties will agree on new meeting dates for the next few months. With regard to the demand for maintaining essential services, filed with the Canada Industrial Relations Board, two hearings have taken place since the 1st of June. The Canada Industrial Relations Board has confirmed its availability to hold hearings until the end of October 2019. Presently, due to the demand to maintain essential services, the parties do not have the right to strike or lock out. Canaan Transport will continue to monitor this situation that is developing at the Port of Montreal.
June 10, 2019 – The U.S. and Mexico have reached a deal to avoid a 5% tariff on all Mexican imports that was set to take effect today, President Donald Trump tweeted Friday night. "The Tariffs scheduled to be implemented by the U.S. on Monday, against Mexico, are hereby indefinitely suspended," Trump tweeted. "Mexico, in turn, has agreed to take strong measures to stem the tide of Migration through Mexico, and to our Southern Border. This is being done to greatly reduce, or eliminate, Illegal Immigration coming from Mexico and into the United States." The State Department released a statement saying the two countries would continue discussions on immigration issues, but said "further actions" may be taken if these measures don’t work as intended.
June 5, 2019 – At the JOC conference that is being held in Toronto this week, panelists and speakers agree that this month will see a surge in imports from China to North America due to the uncertainty of additional US tariffs that are coming into effect at the end of the month. We advise our customers to ensure that your suppliers are aware of a possible space crunch and to plan accordingly.
May 30, 2019 – The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) and ILWU–Canada announced they have come to a tentative agreement and effective immediately, the lockout has been lifted and operations will resume at 1630 hrs on Thursday, May 30, 2019. Negotiations were ongoing from noon yesterday through the night and an agreement was reached this morning. Our Operations teams are now in touch with the ports and rail providers on how quickly they can be prepared for full operations.
May 30, 2019 – As a result of the labour disruption in Vancouver, the following vessels have announced diversion plans
· OOCL San Francisco (0800hrs 28 May) – Diverted to Seattle as first port of call. Unknown what their plan is with regards to imports on vessel and exports on ground at Deltaport.
· ONE Continuity (0800hrs 29 May) – Departing Tacoma, WA and will go to anchorage until some certainty with labour.
· CSL Manhattan (0800hrs 29 May) – Departing Tacoma, WA and will go to anchorage until some certainty with labour.