Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Journal of Commerce Online reports that Senator Patty Murray, who devised Operational Safe Commerce (OSC), is stressing the importance of keeping OSC alive and using its results to form a national and international standard for supply chain and cargo container security. According to the article, OSC has managed to get federal funds in three straight budget cycles, but its survival as a separate program remains unclear once all the tests are complete and the final reports and recommendations are submitted later this year. (JoC Online, dated 09/03/04, www.joc.com.)
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1. Senator Stresses Importance of Continuing Operation Safe Commerce
2. TSA Expands Registered Traveler Pilot Program to Reagan National Airport
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued a press release announcing that it has expanded operations for the Registered Traveler Pilot Program to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. According to the press release, similar pilots have been launched successfully in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Houston, and Boston. (TSA press release, dated 09/03/04, available at http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=44&content=09000519800c9332.)
3. GAO Makes Recommendations to Improve DHS' Financial Management
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report in which it states that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) faces significant financial management challenges. In this report, the GAO makes eight recommendations to improve financial management at DHS, including recommendations to give continued attention to resolving all previously reported internal control weaknesses, etc. (GAO-04-774, dated 07/19/04, available athttp://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04774.pdf)
4. CITA to Provide Guidelines for Threat-Based China Safeguard Petitions
The U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA) reports that the Department of Commerce's (DOC's) Under Secretary for International Trade has overruled other DOC officials who earlier indicated that the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements' (CITA's) rules for handling China textile safeguard cases would have to be revised to permit the filing of a petition based upon threat of market disruption.
The Under Secretary stated that CITA will work with industry to provide "guidelines" of what facts must be presented in order for a petition alleging threat of market disruption to be accepted. USA-ITA notes that the Under Secretary gave no date by which such guidelines would be completed. (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/03/04 news, 04090310, for BP summary of the domestic industry's intention to file "threat-based" China safeguard petitions.)(USA-ITA Pub 09/07/04, www.usaita.com)
5. FMCSA Issues ANPR on EOBRs for Hours of Service Compliance
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) on potential amendments to its regulations concerning the use of electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs) to document compliance with federal hours-of-service (HOS) rules. Comments are due by November 30, 2004. (D/N FMCSA-2004-18940, FR Pub 09/01/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-19907.pdf)
6. State Dept's Shipping Coordinating Committee to Conduct Open Meeting
The State Department has announced that the Shipping Coordinating Committee (SHC) will conduct an open meeting on September 20, 2004 in Washington, DC to prepare for the Ninth Session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Sub-Committee on Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers to be held at IMO Headquarters on September 27 - October 1, 2004. (Public Notice 4782, FR Pub 09/03/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-20147.pdf)