Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
According to a recent Textile Development Memo issued by the U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA), on October 31, 2006 a U.S. paper producer filed petitions with the Department of Commerce (DOC) and the International Trade Commission (ITC) seeking both antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) duties on imports of coated free sheet paper from China, Indonesia, and South Korea. The TDM notes that this is the first CV challenge in 20 years filed against a non-market economy country (China). The TDM further notes that this case may signal prospects for CV duty cases against other Chinese products. (USA-ITA TDM dated 10/31/06, www.usaita.com)
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1. CV Case Filed on Coated Free Sheet Paper from China
2. EPA Proposes Rule to Allocate Allowances for Certain ODSs
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a proposed rule that would allocate essential use allowances for import and production of class I stratospheric ozone depleting substances (ODSs) for calendar year 2007. The proposed allocations total 125.3 metric tons of chlorofluorocarbons for use in metered dose inhalers for 2007. (D/N EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0159; FRL-8239-6, FR Pub 11/03/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-18581.pdf)
3. Foreign Agriculture Service Launches New Export Sales Database
The USDA's Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) has announced that it is expanding its Web site to include a new database, which provides weekly and historical USDA data. According to FAS, the data includes current U.S. export sales and shipments figures for certain grains, soybeans and products, wheat products, rice, flaxseed, linseed oil, cotton and cottonseed products, sunflower seed oil, beef, and cattle hides and skins. The new database will contain information dating from January 1, 1999 and will be updated weekly, usually on Thursdays. (FAS PR-0175-06, dated 11/02/06, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/PressRelease/pressrel_dout.asp?Entry=valid&PrNum=0175-06)
4. USDA's Economic Research Service Issues Info on WTO Agricultural Trade Policy Commitments Database
The USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) has issued a document that provides information on the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Policy Commitments Database. According to ERS, this tool contains analysis of international agriculture trade and policy issues. The data are organized into the following three sections: (1) WTO Export Subsidy Notifications, (2) WTO Domestic Support Notifications, and (3) WTO Tariff Levels. (ERS Pub, undated, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/PressRelease/pressrel_dout.asp?Entry=valid&PrNum=0175-06)
5. President Continues National Emergency with Respect to Sudan
On November 1, 2006, the President determined to continue for one year the national emergency declared in Executive Order (EO) 13067 with respect to Sudan because the actions and policies of the Government of Sudan continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the U.S. (Presidential determination, FR Pub 11/02/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-9070.pdf
6. Food Safety Office/USDA/HHS Public Meeting on Upcoming Session of Codex Committee on Food Hygiene
The Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a notice announcing that the Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, the USDA, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are sponsoring a public meeting on November 9, 2006 in Washington, DC to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 38th session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held in Houston, Texas from December 4 - 9, 2006. (FSIS notice, FR Pub 11/06/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-18689.pdf)
7. FDA Posts Various Notices to its Web Site
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted the following notices to its Web site:
4th edition of Q&A regarding food allergens, labeling, etc. FDA has posted to its Web site an updated guidance for industry entitled "Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens, including the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (Edition 4)." FDA has also issued a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of this report. (FDA Pub 10/06, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/alrguid4.html; FR Pub 11/02/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-18443.pdf)
Report on preparation and LC/MS/MS analysis of honey for fluoroquinolone residues posted. FDA has posted to its Web site a report entitled "Preparation and LC/MS/MS Analysis of Honey for Fluoroquinolone Residues." (Honey report, dated 09/29/06, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/comm/fluoroqu.html)