Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. PierPASS Grants Two Additional "Fee Free" Days

2. China Cautions that Yuan's Increase in Value Was a One-Time Event

The Washington Post reports that China's central bank has declared that the slight increase in value of the yuan during the week of July 18, 2005 was a one-time event, not the beginning of a gradual climb. According to the Washington Post, the People's Bank of China stated that the policy shift was aimed at changing how China sets the exchange rate for the yuan by severing its direct link to the U.S. dollar, not a signal of any willingness to allow its value to float upward. (Washington Post Pub 07/27/05, www.washingtonpost.com)

3. EU Issues Amending Regulation to Implement Textile MOU With China

The European Union (EU) has published an amending regulation that implemented on July 12, 2005 an EU-China memorandum of understanding (MOU) on textiles. The MOU covers imports of the following categories from China into the EU: category 2 (cotton fabrics) category 4 (t-shirts), category 5 (pullovers), category 6 (trousers), category 7 (blouses), category 20 (bed linen), category 26 (dresses), category 31(brassieres), category 39 (table and kitchen linen), and category 115 (flax or ramie yarn). (EU Amending Regulation No. 1084/2005, dated 07/08/05, available at http://www.europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/JOHtml.do?uri=OJ:L:2005:177:SOM:EN:HTML)

4. USDA, FDA, DHS, and FBI Collaborate with States and Private Industry to Protect Against Agroterrorism

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have announced a new collaboration with states and private industry to protect the nation's food supply from terrorist threats. According to the press release, over the next year, federal and state officials will travel to all 50 states to meet with all sectors of the food chain. Together, the federal, state, and private industry partners will discuss security issues from farm-to-table and consider ways to better protect the food supply. (USDA press release no. 0279.05, dated 07/26/05, available at

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1RD?printable=true&contentidonly=true&contentid=2005/07/0279.xml.)

5. FSIS Proposes to Revise Fees for Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Services

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a proposed rule to change the fees that it charges meat and poultry establishments, egg products plants, importers, and exporters for providing voluntary inspection, identification and certification services, overtime and holiday inspection services, and laboratory services. Written comments are due by August 19, 2005. (FSIS proposed rule, FR Pub 07/20/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-14296.pdf.)

6. APHIS Protocol for Importing Camelids & Farmed Cervids from Canada

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued two documents containing the protocol for importing camelids and farmed cervids from Canada into the U.S. Both protocols contain general requirements, certification statements, testing requirements, etc. (APHIS Protocols, dated 07/20/05 available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/pdf/can_camelids05.pdf (Camelids) http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/pdf/can_cervids05.pdf (Cervids))

7. BIS Notice on the Economic Impact of CWC Regulations on Small Business

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a notice requesting comments by August 22, 2005 on the economic impact of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) regulations on small business entities. (BIS adds that the public does not need to resubmit comments submitted in response to proposed CWC regulations published in December 7, 2004. See ITT's Online Archives or 01/10/05 news, 05011035 for BP summary of extension of comment period on proposed rule, with links to Parts I - VI of BP's summaries of proposed rule.)(D/N 990611158-5180-05, FR Pub 07/21/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-14441.pdf )

8. APHIS Affirms Interim Rule on Additional Bird Flu Import Restrictions

The Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a notice stating that it is adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that effective February 4, 2004 prohibited or restricted the importation of birds, poultry, and unprocessed birds and poultry products from certain regions to prevent the introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1 (bird flu) into the U.S. (See ITT's Online Archives or 05/14/04 news, 04051430 for BP summary of interim rule). (D/N 04-011-3, FR Pub 07/20/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-14262.pdf )

9. State Dept International Telecommunication Advisory Committee Meeting

The State Department has announced that the International Telecommunication Advisory Committee (ITAC) Study Group D will hold an open meeting by email on August 10-16, 2005 to consider a normal contribution to ITU-T Study Group 9 (Integrated broadband cable networks and television and sound transmission). The State Department notes that this is not the meeting for general preparation for the SG9 meeting, which is scheduled for September 28, 2005. (Public Notice 5104, FR Pub 07/26/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-14740.pdf)