Trade Information Enquiry and
Retrieval System Guide

WHAT IS TIERS?

Tiers (Trade Information Enquiry and Retrieval System) is a data and software package designed by Statistics Canada to provide access to merchandise trade data. It includes data manipulation functions and Harmonized System (HS) des criptions, and is designed to expedite the recovery and manipulation of up-to-date Canadian Merchandise trade information. Canadian Merchandise Trade Statistics based on customs data, details trade information for over 16,000 imports and 6,000 export commodities for 200 countries. The data variables available for selection include: HS code, province, country, US state, year and trade type. Quantity, value and their totals are displayed by month in the query result.

TIERS is designed to be a user friendly, menu driven system. Windows guide the user by listing accessible control keys and selection variables. Then the system executes the query based on the variable chosen.

SCOPE OF THIS GUIDE

This guide has been prepared to provide the user with a brief description of the TIERS program and how it operates. A sample search is included to introduce and familiarize the user with available functions and screens.

USING TIERS

Two main screens appear in TIERS: the Query screen and the Result screen. TIERS starts by placing the user in the Query screen. All trade inquires are made from the Query screen. All manipulation of data is done within the Result screen. All available features and keystrokes are displayed and defined on the screen.

HS6LOOK and HS10LOOK - Before entering TIERS users must have the HS code for the commodity they are querying. Separate description functions are included called HS6LOOK and HS10LOOK. By querying on key words of a HS code, the HS-6 or H-10 digit level description is provided. Equipped with the required HS-6 or HS-10 code, the user has the information to start a TIERS query.

A SAMPLE SEARCH IN TIERS

1. Double Click TIERS HS6 or HS10 LOOK

Select language

2. Press DOWN ARROW key and select ALL COMMODITIES

Press ENTER

3. Key in APPLES

* If you want to see all commodities, no description is required.

Press ENTER

4. Press ESC

Press F2

Note codes 080810, 081330

Press F2 to EXIT

5. Double Click TIERS icon

Choose language

6. Press Y (yes) to accept Licence agreement.

7. Use arrow key to highlight ENTER CODES.

Press ENTER

8. Key in HS-codes from step 4,

080810 ENTER

081330 ENTER

Press TAB to enter selections

9. Use ARROW key to select NEWFOUNDLAND

Press SPACEBAR to mark selection

Press TAB to enter selection

10.Use ARROW keys (or PAGE UP, PAGE DOWN ) to select CANADA

Press SPACEBAR

Press TAB

11. Select 96

Press SPACEBAR

Press TAB

12. Select IMPORTS

Press SPACEBAR

Press TAB

- To change any selections made Press ESC

ARROW to selection you want to change and press ENTER

13. To submit the query, Press ECS and then press F2

Results are displayed in the Result screen.

-To return to Query screen press F2

Press ENTER

14. To clear Previous Query

Press ESC

Press F3

Type Y (yes)

FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE

For any further questions or for help in searching TIERS, ask the staff at the Media and Data Centre counter.

March 24, 2010
Gillian Byrne