The following is excerpted from the 7 March 2013 edition of CBC News.

Negotiators from the federal and provincial governments are spending a second week in Brussels for intensive negotiations toward a Canada-European Union Free Trade Agreement.

The following is from the 6 March 2013 edition of American Shipper.

The European Commission has delayed implementation of its known consignor rule, a new security law for shippers using air cargo out of Europe, from March 25 to April 29.

Once the rule takes effect, only companies listed as known consignors can designate their air freight as secure.

The following is excerpted from a 28 February 2013 news release by OECD.

Merchandise trade showed moderate growth in the major economies during the fourth quarter of 2012. Compared to the third quarter, the value of merchandise exports and imports for the G7 and  BRICS countries increased by 1.2% and 1.0%, respectively. However, performance varied widely across individual countries.

The following is excerpted from a 27 February 2013 news item by the World Trade Organization.

The Dispute Settlement Body, on 27 February 2013, established a panel to examine the dispute “US — Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Shrimp from Viet Nam”. It elected Ambassador Jonathan Fried of Canada as its new chairman.

This item is available in its entirety at:
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news13_e/dsb_18feb13_e.htm

The following is from the 26 February 2013 edition of American Shipper.

A trade facilitation agreement by the World Trade Organization would benefit the supply chain by reducing trade blockages at borders, according to the Global Air Cargo Advisory Group.

Customs procedures are at the heart of such an agreement, and organizational changes are too important to be left alone, GACAG officials said.

The WTO had been considering an agreement during its latest round of negotiations in Doha, but discussions broke down. 

The following is excerpted from the 27 February 2013 edition of Embassy Magazine.

Some analysts say Canada is under growing pressure to wrap up a European Union trade deal, displayed by both the impending launch of United States-EU trade talks, and the EU trade commissioner’s comment last week that Canada needs to boost its offer.

But while some say the EU is playing a strategies game, and the official’s statement indicates mounting pressure on Canada, others say such comments are common during the final stages of trade talks.

The following is from a 26 February 2013 news item by the World Trade Organization.

On 26 February 2013, the WTO issued the dispute panel report in the case “China – Definitive Anti-Dumping Duties on X-Ray Security Inspection Equipment from the European Union” (WT/DS425/R).

The report is are available at:
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news13_e/425r_e.htm

The following is excerpted from a 26 February 2013 news release by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Written testimony of U.S. Customs and Border Protection U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Fisher and Office of Field Operations Acting Assistant Commissioner Kevin McAleenan for a House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security hearing titled “What Does a Secure Border Look Like?”