Port of Vancouver Industrial Park Development – The Washington State Department of Commerce has granted the Port of Vancouver $5.7 million for industrial park development. The 58-acre Centennial Industrial Park has the proximity for a deep-draft shipping channel, freeway corridors, and rail services. The work will begin this month and should be completed by July 2013.
Read more from Portland Business Journal
Panama Canal Sets Shipped Tonnage Record – The Panama Canal Authority has reported that the Panama Canal has set a new record in shipped tonnage of 333.7 million tons for the 2012 fiscal year. Panama Canal Administrator Jorge Quijano has stated that this proves Panama’s capacity to manage, maintain and improve services at one of the world’s key shipping facilities.
Read more from Bernama
EPA Awards Port of Long Beach $1.34 Million Grant – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the Port of Long Beach a $1.34 million grant for cleaner cargo-handling equipment. The grant will allow the port to retrofit rubber-tired gantry cranes with exhaust treatment technologies and will pay for five yard tractors to run on electricity instead of diesel.
Read more from Journal of Commerce
Canada Eliminates Select Tariffs – New tariff relief for Canadian manufacturers has been announced by Canadian Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty. Customs duties will be eliminated in the following categories: palm oil flakes for use in the manufacture of food products; trays designed to hold discs for use in the manufacture of CD or DVD cases; fabric shells for use in the manufacture of bed linens such as duvets, comforters, featherbeds, cushions and pillows; crossing pieces for guard rails; and certain chassis and motors for use in the manufacture of ambulances.
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