According to the Canadian Auto Workers union, the automotive trade balance is on track to set a record deficit this year. This is the finding of a study conducted by the CAW.

Entitled Canada's Deteriorating Automotive Trade Performance, the CAW report penned by Jim Stanford shows cumulative data that auto exports and imports so far this year will leave Canada with a trade deficit nearing $8 billion.

Currently Canada's largest portion of the trade deficit comes with Japan. Korea and China also account for lop-sided trade deficits. Imports from China for instance have risen by over 1200 per cent over the past ten years.

Canadian Auto Workers union is looking to more attention paid to various free trade agreements and their impact on the Canadian auto sector. At present, Canada is involved with yet another free trade agreement, this time with Korea.

Volkswagen Canada is announcing that in July total sales were up almost 3 per cent. Total new vehicle units sold were 3,347. Leading the way with its best ever sales month was the City Jetta.

Volkswagen Canada is enjoying a YTD sales increase of over 21 per cent. With 130 Volkswagen retailers in Canada, Volkswagen was able to sell 22,850 new units in the past twelve months.

Volkswagen Canada Inc is based in Ajax Ontario. VW is Europe's largest automaker.

Vancouver was the scene of comprehensive testing conducted by the Canada Border Services Agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and both public and private partners to ensure the movement of trade should a border emergency arise. Together they worked on finding ways to improve needed communications between government agencies and the overall business community around national security and trade.

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said of the tests, "Ensuring the smooth flow of nearly $2 billion worth of goods and services that cross the Canada-U.S. border daily is vital. This exercise is a direct result of the $24 million Canada's New Government dedicated to business resumption planning earlier this year."

Representatives worked on scenarios that have a potential to disrupt our major land border crossings and marine ports. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner W. Ralph Basham said, "This exercise shows how our two countries and the private sector can collaborate to minimize the impact of an emergency. The more thoughtful consideration we give now to worst-case scenarios, the better prepared we will be in the future to lessen damage, including to international trade."

It's the most radical trade deal since the ill-fated Multilateral Agreement on Investments. And it is for that reason why British Columbians need a public hearing on the soon-to-be-enacted Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement between B.C. and Alberta, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

"This deal is extremely powerful - it binds not only the province but all municipalities and school boards to its broad-sweeping provisions," said CUPE BC president Barry O'Neill.

According to the Community Charter of British Columbia, municipalities are "an order of government" that have the "authority to determine the public interest of their communities." However, the TILMA - like Bill 30, a law passed by the BC Liberal government that removed the public's right to vote on proposed private power installations in their own communities - undermines that authority, says the union.

Independent forest contractors and suppliers on BC's Coast are set to launch the 64th annual TLA convention and expo, to be held January 16th to January 19th at Vancouver's Trade and Convention Centre.

In addition to the conference, the sold-out trade show will feature one hundred exhibitors, new harvesting technology, satellite communications software and the best the coastal forest industry has to offer.

Entitled "British Columbia's Coastal Forests: A Gateway to Prosperity," the popular event will focus on the opportunities, challenges and markets for BC coastal forest products.

United Steelworkers' National Director Ken Neumann said Monday that last week's ratification of the continent-wide agreement with Goodyear Tire and Rubber would not have been achieved without the support of thousands of working people, their organizations and others who supported the Goodyear strikers in Canada.

"The solidarity and commitment of working people, not just in our union, but across the country, made it possible to settle this 86-day strike," said Neumann. "We have shown that companies that seek to destroy generations of progress for the people who produce the goods that create wealth in North America will be challenged and pushed back."

Vehicle purchases in China, India and Latin America will remain in the fast-lane in 2007. However, after five consecutive years of record sales, global volumes are expected to be flat next year, as slowing economic growth undercuts sales in the mature markets of the United States, Canada, Western Europe and Japan. This according to the latest Global Auto Report released today by Scotia Economics.

"China became the world's third-largest car market in 2006, and will remain the 'growth leader' in 2007," says Carlos Gomes, Scotiabank's auto industry specialist. "Car sales in China soared by nearly 40 per cent in 2006 to 4.1 million units, surpassing the 3.4 million sold in Germany. Much of the growth is concentrated in small and medium-sized sedans, which now account for two-thirds of China's overall car sales, double their share at the turn of the millennium."

"China should become the world's second-largest car market (after the United States) before decade end, as low vehicle penetration, rising incomes, greater credit availability and falling car prices lift sales past those of Japan," adds Mr. Gomes. "Despite rapid sales gains, vehicle penetration in China stands at only 24 per 1,000 people, compared with 749 in the mature markets of the G7."

Merrill & Ring Forestry an American company that has owned and operated timberlands in British Columbia for more than 100 years, has formally launched a NAFTA claim against the Canadian government under Chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement. They are seeking at least $25 million in damages.

The claim arises from Merrill & Ring Forestry assertion that Canada's imposition of unfair restrictions on log exports from privately-owned lands in British Columbia in violation of the NAFTA.

Merrill & Ring's Vice President, Timberlands & Administration, Norm Schaaf, said the restrictions compel the company to sell its logs to British Columbia sawmills at below the prices it could obtain if they were exported. The restrictions to the sale of timber apply only in British Columbia, and are supported by the provincial government.

According to a new study from the Centre for Outsourcing Research and Education, there are important changes happening in the way larger organizations approach outsourcing and it is maturing as a business practice.

The study, which is entitled Optimizing Value from Outsourcing, found that companies are doing more outsourcing of entire business processes and not just of IT or narrowly-defined business activities. "Companies no longer see outsourcing as primarily a cost reduction initiative, but rather as part of their broader strategy to access capabilities that are in short supply, to bring greater innovation into their organizations, and to enhance their overall business effectiveness," says John Simke, President of CORE.

As of January 23, 2007, a new American law will require everyone entering the United States by air to have a passport.

The U.S. Government has announced the final rule for travel by air to the United States under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).

"As of January 23, 2007, a new American law will require Canadians to carry a passport to travel to the United States by air," said the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety. "We are ensuring that our borders are kept open to legitimate trade and travel but closed to terrorists, criminals and other threats to our health and safety," he added.