How Can SMEs Size Up to Border Regulations?

Canadian Transportation & Logistics magazine’s recent article, Seeing Red, discusses the trade relationship between the U.S. and Canada. With the new U.S. administration up and running, Canada has begun talks on how to build more transparency and establishing a more consistant preclearance reporting.

The fear of added protectionism from the new US administration still feeling its way around the Canada-US trade relationship has also heightened the sense that the border is thickening, reports Julia Kuzeljevich, feature editor. 

Large enterprises have the resources with any change between the two countries trade policies to understand and meet any new regulations. But, what about the small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs)?

The more SMEs enter into cross border trade, the more work has to go into information being managed.

Nathan Pieri, senior vice-president of marketing and product management for Management Dynamics states, “There is not a good understanding among SMEs about what is required. They have a very hard time getting their message up the ranks.” 

Management Dynamics offers a solution that will help SMEs stay confident as it participates in global trade.  Export On-Demand is a complete trade automation solution that helps establish an Export Management System, automate many aspects of compliance and demonstrate reasonable care.

Wanna find out more information about Export On-Demand? click here.

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U.S Border Patrol May Be More Foe Than Friend to Canada

 Discussions on the U.S. response to increase security by 45 percent after top officials talked openly to build stronger ties to the two countries have caused debate.

On May 27, Canadian public safety minister, Peter Van Loan and U.S Secretary of homeland security,  Janet Napolitano met to discuss border relations between the two countries.

“We are committed to a collaborative approach to our border—one that enhances our security and public safety while facilitating the trade and travel that connects our two countries,” they said in a joint statement.

But, memories of 9/11 aren’t too far in the past for Americans. Last week. Jayson Ahern, acting commissioner for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced $12 million out of the $60 million allocated to improving border protection will be spent by increasing the number of agents stationed in the Northern states patrolling the U.S./Canadian border.

Currently, there are around 1,500 agents monitoring the Canadian border, this will increase to a little more than 1,800 by the end of this year and nearly 2,300 by the end of 2010.

Deborah Aarts, managing editor of MM&D magazine in Toronto, Ontario, Canada writes a strong opinion of  what she thinks is a mis-representation the U.S. has given in its cooperation to work together to secure and protect its border as well as continue open trade.

What I have a problem with is the one-sidedness of it all. The US agreed to work together with Canada on border issues, then promptly announced on its own its intent to ramp up security by 45 percent. The Canada Border Services Agency has voiced no similar plans. Even if the decision was made before the May 27 meeting, and even if Canada knew about it, the optics suggest that the two countries are not on the same page.

Although Ms. Aarts doesn’t speak for every Canadian, I’m sure more decisions and debates will arise as plans begin to be implemented.

To read more about the increase in U.S security, click here.

To read more about Deborah Aarts editoral, click here.

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