Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. House Agriculture Committee's Version of Farm Bill Includes Mandatory Origin Labeling for Meat

2. U.S. Spends Under 1% of GDP on Infrastructure, but California to Spend 6% of its State Tax Revenue

A Journal of Commerce commentary cited a recent Ernst and Young report which found that the U.S. spends less than 1% of its gross domestic product on infrastructure, compared with China's 9% and India's 3.5%. The author opines that California's recently passed bond legislation earmarking $20 billion for transportation and $17 billion for other projects, using 6% of the state's general fund tax revenue, should serve as a model to address the country's critical freight infrastructure needs. (JoC, dated 07/02/07, www.joc.com)

3. Secretary of Commerce to Lead Business Development Mission to Vietnam

The Department of Commerce has issued a press release announcing that the Commerce Secretary will lead a business development mission to Vietnam in late 2007 to highlight export opportunities for U.S. businesses. The mission is intended to help U.S. companies develop business and government contacts, solidify business strategies and obtain market access information, and serve as a platform for addressing policy and commercial issues such as transparency, intellectual property rights, trading and distribution rights, etc. (Commerce press release, dated 07/17/07, available at http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_003180)

4. FMC Issues Consumer Advisory Notice on Shippex Shipping Express

The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a notice to alert consumers about the activities of an entity using the name Shippex Shipping Express (not to be confused with Shipex LLC of Houston, TX) which is offering, through its Web site (www.shippex.net) to move household goods for consumers via ocean transportation to other countries but is not licensed and bonded. Shippex allegedly has been collecting payment from consumers for the delivery of their goods to a foreign destination and may be related to another unlicensed entity FMC is presently investigating. (FMC advisory available at http://www.fmc.gov/home/ShippexAdvisory.asp)

5. WCO to Hold Conference on Application of HS for High-Tech Goods

The World Customs Organization has issued a pamphlet announcing its World Customs Centre of Learning training program on the application of the Harmonized System for high-tech products in 2007. The two-part training program includes 6 hours of e-learning material to be conducted via the internet and a two-day training workshop at the WCO headquarters in Brussels on October 23-24, 2007. The price for the first participant is 1,850 (without VAT) and 1,650 (without VAT) for additional participants. (Course pamphlet available at http://e-learning.wcoomd.org/Hosting/Premia/omd-hightech-2007.pdf)

6. FDA Denies Requests for Hearing on Amended Food Additive Final Rule

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a notice responding to objections and denying requests that it has received for a hearing on the final rule that amended the food additive regulations to authorize the use of a machine source of high energy x-rays to inspect cargo containers that may contain food. The FDA states that the objections do not raise issues of material fact that justify a hearing. (D/N 1994F-0008 (formerly 94F-0008), FR Pub 07/19/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-13947.pdf)

7. President Blocks Property of Certain Persons Threatening Iraq Stabilization

The President has issued Executive Order 13438 in order to, among other things, block all property and interests in property in the U.S. of certain persons who threaten stabilization efforts in Iraq in order to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in EO 13303 and expanded in EO 13315. This Order also prohibits any transaction by a U.S. person or within the U.S. that evades, avoids, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in EO 13438. (EO 13438, FR Pub 07/19/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-3552.pdf)

8. USDA Partners with Animal ID Organization to Increase NAIS Registration

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a press release announcing that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced an agreement with the U.S. Animal Identification Organization to register more than 100,000 new premises as a result of livestock producers learning more about the animal health and economic benefits of the National Animal Identification System. (APHIS press release, dated 07/17/07, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2007/07/usaionais.shtml)

9. Various Agencies Seek Comments on Information Collections

Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):

FWS Information Collection (FR Pub 07/11/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-13415.pdf

EPA 1 Information Collection (FR Pub 07/13/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-13623.pdf

APHIS 1 Information Collection (FR Pub 07/13/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-13687.pdf

APHIS 2 Information Collection (FR Pub 07/13/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-13683.pdf

EPA 2 Information Collection (FR Pub 07/05/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-12997.pdf