Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
According to Washington Trade Daily, the Canadian government hopes to issue a draft text of the softwood lumber agreement with U.S. negotiators by the end of this week. The article states that the proposed seven-year renewable deal would replace U.S. lumber duties with a Canadian border tax or quotas and would return about 80% of the duties collected. (WTD, dated 05/25/06, www.washingtontradedaily.com)
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1. Canada Hopes to Issue Draft of Softwood Lumber Agreement by End of Week
2. USA-ITA Urges Cumulation Under DR-CAFTA
The U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA) has issued a Textile Development Memo stating it is preparing a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative urging the implementation of cumulation with Mexico and Canada under the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). USA-ITA notes in its letter that the ability to cumulate North American inputs into regionally produced apparel products is one of the most valuable features of DR-CAFTA. (USA-ITA memo, dated 05/23/06, and USA-ITA letter, www.usaita.com.)
3. APHIS Final Rule Allows Import of Baby Corn & Baby Carrots from Zambia
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, effective May 24, 2006, which amends the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation into the continental U.S. of fresh, dehusked immature (baby) sweet corn and fresh baby carrots from Zambia. As a condition of entry, both commodities will be subject to inspection at the port of first arrival and will have to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the commodity has been inspected and found free of certain quarantine pests. (D/N 05-059-2, FR Pub 05/24/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-4813.pdf)
4. USTR Proposes Reforms to the International Coffee Organization
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release announcing that it has proposed wide-ranging reforms to the International Coffee Organization (ICO) which are intended to strengthen the ICO's contributions to the world coffee economy. The proposals cover a wide range of topics such as environmental sustainability, streamlining ICO's structure and operations, strengthening the contributions of the private sector, etc. The proposals are available at http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Trade_Sectors/Environment/asset_upload_file590_9459.pdf (USTR Press Release, dated 05/22/06, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2006/May/US_Proposes_Reforms_for_the_International_Coffee_Organization.html)
5. DOL Seeks Applications for Grants to Combat Exploitative Child Labor
The Department of Labor has announced that it is seeking applications for Cooperative Agreements from organizations to improve access to and quality of education programs as a means to combat exploitative child labor in Egypt, Peru, and Tanzania. The DOL will award up to $5 million for projects in each country. Applications must be submitted by July 24, 2006. (FR Pub 05/25/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-4857.pdf)