Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Journal of Commerce reports that the way seems clear for the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to lift the last restriction on non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs) that want to write contracts with their customers. According to the article, the only thing that NVOCCs cannot do under the current Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) rules for NVOCC service arrangements (NSAs) is collaborate as carriers to offer services to shippers. In August 2005, the FMC asked industry how NVOCCs might use the ability and after the October 20, 2005 comment deadline, there was a unanimous verdict that it's a good idea. (JoC dated 10/31/05, www.joc.com.)
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1. Way Seems Clear for FMC to Lift Last Restriction on NVOCCs in NSAs
2. USDA Officials Urges Caution in Imposing Trade Restrictions for Bird Flu
The Wall Street Journal reports that a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) official has called for caution in imposing trade restrictions following decisions by China and Vietnam to ban poultry imports from affected countries. According to the article, the official stated that if the disease is found in a country, the tendency to shut off all trade is an overreaction. (WSJ dated 11/03/05, www.wsj.com.)
3. FDA & FSIS to Hold Public Meeting on Possible Changes to Regulatory Jurisdiction for Certain Meat & Poultry Food Products
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will hold a public meeting on December 15, 2005 in Rosemont, IL to discuss and solicit information on an approach for providing consistency and predictability with respect to which of the two agencies should have jurisdiction over certain types of food products that contain meat and poultry ingredients. (D/N 05-013N, FR Pub 11/07/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-22123.pdf)
4. USTR Invites Applications to be Included on Roster for NAFTA Panels
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued notice announcing that it is accepting applications through November 28, 2005 for inclusion on a roster of individuals to serve on North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) binational panels convened in antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) proceedings. The roster will be used for the period of April 1, 2006 through March 31, 2007. (FR Pub 11/03/05, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-21895.pdf)