Newsletter – January 5, 2018

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

China Airlines signs up to offer CSafe pharma containers
source: Air Cargo News

China Airlines will be able to offer pharma customers access to CSafe Global’s temperature-controlled air cargo containers after the two firms signed. Read more here.

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

Record cargo year at Port of Montreal
source: Ajot

As early winter’s deepest freeze in many years hampered normal shipping operations on the St. Lawrence River, the Port of Montreal announced record performances in 2017 total and container cargo. The occasion was the special annual ceremony on Jan. 3 honouring the captain of the first ocean-going vessel to reach the port in the new year. Read more here.

GROUND AND RAIL FREIGHT UPDATES

Railways continue to reduce emissions in Canada: RAC
source: Canadian Shipper

Ottawa, ON — Canada’s railways are on pace to meet greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets set out by the rail sector and the federal government, according to the latest Locomotive Emissions Monitoring (LEM) Program report released by the Railway Association of Canada. Read more here.

CANADIAN BUSINESS – GOVERNMENT UPDATES

Forwarders Could See Effect of Carbon Tax Surcharge Adjustments
source: Ciffa

The federal government’s environmental requirement for all provinces to implement a carbon tax by 2018 has resulted in rail companies issuing notice this month of adjusted tariffs for a carbon tax by province and invoicing steamship lines for the charge. For forwarders, this could mean increased fees being passed on to cargo. Some steamship lines were absorbing fees when the amount was much less, but since the tax now applies by province, some policy revisions are taking place.

Some steamship lines will be adding to their tariffs, such as Hapag-Lloyd, which indicated it will begin charging an adjusted carbon tax surcharge from February 1, 2018 on import and export rail moves within Canada and across the border into the United States.

Every province is different. For example, Quebec’s tax is $1 and several maritime provinces have not listed their carbon tax yet. A year ago on January 1, Ontario and Alberta adopted broad-based carbon pricing policies. Alberta opted for a carbon tax, while Ontario chose a cap-and-trade system.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS – GOVERNMENT UPDATES

Winter storm 2018: What’s closed, canceled in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut
source: Canadian Shipper

NEW YORK (WABC) — With a massive winter storm battering the New York area, many municipalities and organizations are canceling events and functions in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

* The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is advising motorists that the High Occupancy Vehicle lane on the Gowanus Expressway will be closed for the morning rush hour (6 a.m. to 10 a.m.) on Thursday, January 4.

Extension of In-bond Regulation Enforcement Dates
source: Csms

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will extend the time frame for initial implementation of the following regulatory changes for six months. The new implementation schedule is available here.