Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Senate Finance Favorably Reports CAFTA Bill and Burma Sanctions Resolution

2. U.S., Vietnam Sign Cooperative Agreement on Agriculture

The Washington File reports that the U.S. and Vietnam have signed a memorandum of agreement strengthening their cooperation in agriculture and related fields. The article notes that during the past ten years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture have collaborated on a number of joint research and agricultural training projects in areas including animal health inspection, soy meal purchasing and cotton classification. (Washington File Pub 06/22/05, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/eap/Archive/2005/Jun/22-679998.html)

3. Secretary of State Amends Designation of Foreign Terrorist Organization

Based upon review of the administrative record and in consultation with the Attorney General and Treasury Secretary, the Secretary of State has concluded that Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (also known by other aliases) uses or has used additional aliases, namely, Paasban-e-Kashmir, Paasban-i-Ahle Hadith, Pasban-e-Kashmir, Pasban-e-Ahle Hadith, and Paasban-e-Ahle Hadis. Therefore, effective June 17, 2005, the 2003 redesignation of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba as a foreign terrorist organization is amended to include these listed names and other possible transliterations thereof. (Public Notice 5109, FR Pub 06/17/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-12012.pdf)

4. Canada Customs Renames its Automated Customs Information Service

Canada's Border Services Agency (CBSA) has posted to its Web site a notice announcing that, effective June 1, 2005, the name of the Automated Customs Information Service (ACIS) was changed to the Border Information Service (BIS) in order to better reflect the business lines of the CBSA. CBSA states that BIS is a computerized, bilingual, 24-hour 1-800 telephone service that automatically answers all incoming calls and provides general border services information. Callers can also speak directly to an agent during regular business hours. CBSA notes that there are two call centers - Winnipeg, Manitoba and Saint John, New Brunswick. (CBSA notice N-619, dated 06/16/05, available at www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pub/cm/cn619/cn619-e.html.)

5. FMCSA Withdraws 2 ANPRs on Biometric Identifiers and CDLs

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a notice withdrawing two advance notices of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) from 1989 and 1991 on using biometric identifiers to provide positive identification of drivers in the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) and to prevent drivers from obtaining more than one commercial driver's license (CDL). FMCSA states that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is currently developing a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) that will incorporate biometric identifiers and does not want to cause a conflict in standards adopted by each agency or place an undue burden on States by imposing two different standards and/or technologies for CDLs and the TWIC. (FMCSA notice, FR Pub 05/09/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-9171.pdf.)

6. CBP Seeks Comments on Information Collections

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is seeking comments on the following information collections, for which it has requested or intends to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval (see notices for specific details):

(CBP Information Collection notices, FR Pub 06/17/05, available under "Customs and Border Protection" at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a050617c.html)