Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

Yahoo! News reports that Indonesia and Japan have signed a free trade agreement which was under negotiation for more than two years. The Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement will eliminate most Japanese tariffs upon implementation, with the remaining tariffs to be reduced to zero within 3 to 10 years. Meanwhile around 93% of Indonesia's tariffs, or 92% of the value of Japanese exports to Indonesia, will be reduced. (Yahoo! News, dated 08/20/07, available at http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070820/bs_afp/japanindonesiadiplomacyeconomytrade_070820110351)

5. FWS Prohibits Import/Export and Transport of Lions, Tigers, Leopards, Etc.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a press release announcing that the new Captive Wildlife Safety Act, effective September 17, 2007, prohibits anyone from importing or exporting "big cats" (lions, tigers, leopards, etc.), selling or buying them through interstate commerce, transporting them across state lines, or receiving or acquiring them if the animals are moved from one state to another, with certain exceptions. (FWS, dated 08/16/07, available at http://www.fws.gov/home/feature/2007/capwildthree.pdf?newsId=4B73BF7F-D533-C54E-9595300EC2715A44)

6. PHMSA & NRC Request Comments on Radioactive Material Transport Regs

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) are jointly seeking comments by September 5, 2007 on issues or problems concerning requirements in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (referred to as TS-R-1). (PHMSA/NRC notice, D/N PHMSA-07-28590, Notice No. 07-6, FR Pub 08/13/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-15741.pdf.)

7. President's Export Council Teleconference Scheduled for August 23, 2007

The International Trade Administration has issued a notice announcing that the President's Export Council was to hold a meeting via teleconference on August 23, 2007 to deliberate a draft letter of recommendation to the President. (ITA notice, FR Pub 08/21/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-4111.pdf.)

8. FMCSA Annual Audit of NAFTA Cross-Border Trucking Provisions

The Department of Transportation's Office of the Inspector General has issued a report on the results of its annual audit of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Cross-Border Trucking Provisions, which assesses the actions FMCSA took in response to the January 2005 report recommendations. The report states that despite the progress FMCSA has made, additional improvements are needed in, among other things, the quality of the data used to monitor Mexican commercial driver traffic convictions in the U.S., and ensuring adequate capacity to inspect Mexican buses. (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/21/07 news, 07082125, for BP summary of FMCSA's intent to proceed with the U.S.-Mexico cross-border trucking pilot.) (Report No. MH-2007-062, issued 08/06/07, available at http://mexicotrucker.com/download/50/)

9. State Advisory Committee on International Law to Hold Public Meeting

The State Department has issued a notice announcing that its Advisory Committee on International Law will hold a public meeting on September 14, 2007 in Washington, DC to discuss, among other things, recent developments in litigation under the Alien Tort Statute and in U.S. non-proliferation efforts. Members of the public wishing to attend the meeting should notify the Office of the Assistant Legal Adviser for Claims and Investments Disputes by September 12, 2007. (Public Notice 5834, FR Pub 08/21/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-16460.pdf)

10. DDTC Telecommunications Transfer May Cause August 24 Disruptions

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has issued a notice announcing that on August 24, 2007, it was to transfer its telecommunications link to a new provider, to begin at 12:00 noon on August 24, which may cause a loss of availability to the DDTC systems during this time. DDTC expects the disruptions to be totally complete by the morning of August 27, 2007. (DDTC notice, dated 08/22/07, available at http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/transferring_telecommunications_notice.htm)

11. 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):