Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. President Extends National Emergency with Respect to Burma

2. President Extends National Emergency Protecting Development Fund for Iraq, etc.

On May 18, 2006, President Bush issued a notice continuing for one year beyond May 22, 2006 the national emergency protecting the Development Fund for Iraq and certain other property in which Iraq has an interest. This national emergency was originally declared in Executive Order 13303 on May 22, 2003. (FR Pub 05/19/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-4766.pdf)

3. APHIS Affirms Interim Rule Adding Five Countries to Avian Flu Ban

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced that it is affirming as a final rule an interim rule which was effective February 7, 2006. the interim rule added Kazakhstan, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine to the list of regions where highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) is known to exist. The final rule is effective May 18, 2006. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/14/06 news, 06021410, for BP summary of the interim rule.) (D/N APHIS-2006-0010, FR Pub 05/18/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-4650.pdf)

4. FWS Issues Update on its Trade Restrictions on Queen Conch

The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has issued a notice which states that effective May 12, 2006, the U.S. will allow the import of queen conch from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Trinidad and Tobago. The U.S. will continue to prohibit the import of queen conch (live, dead, meat, shells, and other parts and products) from Haiti. Effective May 12, 2006, the U.S. will no longer allow the import of queen conch from Grenada. (See ITT's Online Archives or 04/24/06 news, 06042425, for BP summary of FWS guidance on importing and exporting shellfish, fish, and fishery products, and importing salmonids.) (FWS Pub 05/15/06, available at http://www.fws.gov/le/PubBulletins/PBQueenConch.htm)

5. ITA Invites Comments, Announces Meeting on APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules

The International Trade Administration (ITA) is inviting stakeholders to submit comments by June 14, 2006 on the development and implementation of "cross-border privacy rules" in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Group (APEC). The ITA will hold a public meeting on June 13, 2006 in Washington, DC to discuss the efficacy or need of cross-border privacy rules, obstacles to their creation, and other related issues. (ITA notice, FR Pub 05/22/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-7779.pdf.)

6. DOE Requests Comments on Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Refrigeration Equipment

On May 16, 2006, the Department of Energy was scheduled to hold an informal public meeting to present its proposed methodologies for conducting its rulemaking on energy conservation standards for commercial refrigeration equipment (e.g., ice-cream freezers, refrigerators, freezers, etc.). In addition, DOE has prepared a Framework Document on this issue. Comments are due by May 30, 2006. (DOE notice, FR Pub 04/25/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-6206.pdf.)

7. Foreign-Trade Zones Board Actions

The Foreign-Trade Zones Board (FTZB) has issued the following notices of recent FTZB actions:

FTZB notices (FR Pub 05/23/06) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-7839.pdf