Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

The Journal of Commerce reports that the U.S.-Panama free trade agreement is likely to be considered by Congress this fall, according to an aide to the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, due in part to Panama's willingness to include labor and environmental provisions in the text of the agreement. (JoC, dated 07/30/07, www.joc.com)

3. China Says U.S. AD/CV Actions Are Protectionist, Break WTO Rules

Yahoo! News reports that China's Vice Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng recently accused the U.S. of becoming increasingly protectionist and of breaking World Trade Organization rules while carrying out antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CV) duty investigations since November against five Chinese products, including items such as art paper, steel pipe and tires. Gao stated that the investigations and measures undertaken by the U.S. will lead to double taxation which he says cannot be done under WTO rules. (Yahoo! News, dated 08/23/07, available at http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070823/bs_afp/chinauswtotradeconsumerrecallfood_070823120518)

4. CBP Chicago Announces Consolidation of Commodity Teams 308 and 310

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Chicago has issued a Pipeline announcing that effective August 1, 2007, commodity team 310 will no longer exist in the Port of Chicago as the HTS assignments for teams 308 and 310 are being consolidated and will be handled by commodity team 308. Chicago adds that the Import Specialist Team Assignment module within the Automated Commercial System (ACS) was to be updated to reflect this change effective August 1, 2007. (Chicago Pipeline 07-31, dated 07/30/07, available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)

5. FSIS 24-Hour Web Feature for Inspection/Public Health Questions

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a press release announcing that it has launched askFSIS, a new web-based feature designed to help answer technical and policy questions regarding inspection and public health regulations 24 hours a day, which may be accessed through FSIS' Web site by selecting "Help" from the global navigation buttons at the top of the main page. (FSIS press release, dated 08/16/07, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_081607_01/index.asp)

6. Company Fined $1,102,200 for Unlicensed Exports of Crime Control Items

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a press release announcing that Armor Holdings, Inc. of Florida has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $1,102,200 to settle charges related to unlicensed exports of crime control equipment, including handcuffs, riot helmets, fingerprinting equipment, and face shields, to foreign consignees in 41 countries, including Egypt, Mexico, and France. BIS also charged Armor with failing to file Shipper's Export Declarations, misrepresenting license authority, and failing to comply with recordkeeping requirements. (BIS press release, date 08/17/07, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/news/2007/florida.html)

7. FDA Proposes Rule on UVA/UVB Requirements for Sunscreens

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a proposed rule that would amend the final monograph for over-the-counter (OTC) sunscreen drug products to address formulation, labeling, and testing requirements for both ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation protection. The rule proposes to lift the stays of 21 CFR 347.20(d) and 21 CFR Part 352 when FDA publishes a final rule based on this proposed rule. (FDA notice, D/N 1978N-0038, dated 08/27/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-4131.pdf)

8. Foreign-Trade Zones Board Actions

The FTZB has issued the following notice of recent FTZ actions:

9. FMC Lists OTI Applications

FMC notice (FR Pub 08/22/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-16599.pdf