Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a press release announcing that on August 23, 2006 the U.S. and the Philippines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to Cooperate on Stopping Illegal Transshipments of Textiles and Apparel through the Philippines to the U.S. According to the press release, the MOU provides for customs cooperation, identification of the actual textile and apparel manufacturers, and joint verification visits to provide the U.S. and Philippine governments the information necessary to stop textile and apparel transshipments. (USTR press release, dated 08/23/06, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2006/August/US_Trade_Representative_Susan_C_Schwab_Philippines_Secretary_of_Trade_Industry_Peter_B_Favila_Sign_Textile_MOU.html.)
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1. U.S. and Philippines Sign MOU to Combat Illegal Textile Transshipment
2. USTR Welcomes Canadian Industry Support for Lumber Agreement
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a statement welcoming an announcement that the Canadian industry has expressed its support for the agreement that would settle the U.S. and Canada's softwood lumber dispute. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/11/06 news, 06071100, for BP summary of this agreement, under which all litigation would cease and most collected antidumping and countervailing duties would be returned.) (USTR statement, dated 08/22/06, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2006/August/US_Trade_Representative_Susan_C_Schwab_Welcomes_Announcement_of_Canadian_Industry_Support_for_the_Softwood_Lumber_Agreement.html)
3. APHIS Prohibits Entry of Potatoes, Other Products from Quebec
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a news release announcing that, starting August 16, 2006, it is prohibiting the entry of potatoes and other products from the Canadian province of Quebec due to the detection of the golden nematode, a serious pest of potatoes that does not pose a threat to human health. APHIS notes that potato products that are already processed in Quebec prior to export will not be affected by these restrictions. (APHIS news release, dated 08/16/06, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2006/08/gn_Canadian.shtml)
4. International Trade Specialist Counseling Survey
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice seeking comments on an attached survey in order to collect feedback from U.S. businesses that receive counseling from domestic International Trade Specialists of the U.S. Commercial Service. Comments must be submitted by October 20, 2006. (ITA notice, FR Pub 08/21/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-13706.pdf)
5. PHMSA Releases Enforcement Notice Citing Hazmat Violations
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued an enforcement notice detailing 61 hazardous materials civil penalty cases it closed in the months of February and March 2006 for violations of the Hazardous Materials Regulations. PHMSA reports that for calendar year 2006, it has closed a total of 82 hazardous materials civil penalty cases and collected $487,023 in penalties. (PHMSA notice 3-06, dated 08/07/06, available at http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/news/PHMSAJUL2006HMEnforcementNotice.pdf)