GISTnet Tips: 2001-08-13

General:
Does anybody really know what time it is?  See
http://www.gistnet.com/sub/glossary/coordinated_universal_time.html.  Time
zone information for countries around the world can be found in the GISTnet
country guides at http://www.gistnet.com/library/2/cidb/

Customs Brokers and Importers:
A customs broker must have a valid power of attorney in order to transact
most types of customs business on behalf of an importer.  Read about this
in the GISTnet glossary at
http://www.gistnet.com/sub/glossary/importer_power_of_attorney.html

Freight Forwarders and Exporters:
You probably already know that special certificates or declarations are
required concerning solid wood packing materials on shipments to
China.  Recent changes now allow U.S. exporters to effectively use Canadian
wood.  Per the Federal Register of July 17, 2001,  Canadian coniferous
solid wood packing materials that have been heat treated in Canada, and
certified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to meet the
requirements of the People's Republic of China, are now acceptable for use
on U.S. export shipments to China.  The USDA APHIS will issue certificates
for export based on presentation of valid certificates from the CFIA.  See
the GISTnet country guide for China for more details on Chinese
requirements: http://www.gistnet.com/library/2/cidb/cn.html