Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. ASEAN and Japan Near Completion of Free Trade Agreement

2. U.S.-China Commission to Hold Public Hearing on China's Impact on North Carolina Clothing, Textile, Furniture Industries

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, created by an Act of Congress, has issued a notice announcing it will hold an open public hearing September 6-7, 2007 in Chapel Hill, NC. The hearing, entitled ''North Carolina: China's Impact on the North Carolina Economy: Winners and Losers,'' will examine impacts of Chinese exports on North Carolina's traditional clothing, textile, and furniture industries; the effectiveness of North Carolina's proactive measures to mitigate and adapt to Chinese competition; and consider feedback and opinions from the people of NC. (FR Pub 08/24/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-4139.pdf)

3. Working Group on Safety of Imported Products to Meet October 1, 2007

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a notice announcing that the Interagency Working Group on Import Safety (Working Group) will hold a public meeting on October 1, 2007 in Washington, DC to identify actions that the public and private sectors can take to promote the safety of products imported into the U.S. Individuals interested in attending in person or by teleconference must register by September 17, 2007. (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/31/07 news, 07083120, for BP summary of an update on the Working Group.) (D/N 2007N-0330, FR Pub 08/31/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-17305.pdf)

4. DHS, Arizona Team Up to Advance Secure ID Initiatives

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a press release announcing that the state of Arizona will develop a technologically enhanced driver's license that will provide its residents, who voluntarily apply and qualify, with a document that is acceptable for use at U.S. land and sea ports. The Arizona project, much like the agreement reached with Washington and Vermont, will potentially serve as another alternative available to U.S. citizens to satisfy Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requirements. (Press release, dated 08/24/07, available at http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1187969723463.shtm)

5. APHIS Technical Amendments on Certain Fruit Imports from Thailand

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a final rule making technical amendments to its regulations regarding the importation of certain fruit from Thailand. Among other things, the amendments add a new 7 CFR 319.56-47 entitled, ''Certain fruits from Thailand," to specify the conditions under which certain litchi, longan, mango, mangosteen, pineapple, and rambutan from Thailand can be imported, and make corrections to the entry for Thailand in the table at 7 CFR 319.56-13(a). (See ITT's Online Archives or 06/26/07, 07062699 5, for BP summary of APHIS' final rule on certain fruit imports from Thailand. See ITT's Online Archives or 07/30/07 news, 07073025, for the final part of BP summaries on a later APHIS final rule which significantly revised its fruit/vegetable import regulations, with links to previous parts.) (APHIS notice, D/N APHIS-2005-0106, FR Pub 08/24/07, available athttp://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-16832.pdf)

6. English Tariff Descriptions of Certain Products Affected by China's VAT Rebate Reductions

The Foreign Agricultural Service has issued a Global Agriculture Information Network (GAIN) report regarding certain agricultural and forest products (including items such as handbags, suitcases, fiberboard, etc.) affected by China's July 1, 2007 cancellation or reduction of certain value-added tax (VAT) rebates, with attached tables of the affected Chinese tariff numbers and the corresponding product descriptions in English. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/03/07 news, 07070312, for BP summary of China's reduction/cancellation of the VAT rebates on exports classified under approximately 2,800 tariff numbers, with links to the tariff numbers/product descriptions in Chinese.) (GAIN report, CH7060, dated 07/26/07, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200708/146292052.pdf)

7. CBP's APIS Pre-Departure Rule Amends Traveler Manifest Transmission Requirements

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a final rule, effective February 19, 2008, amending 19 CFR Parts 4 and 122 concerning the electronic manifest transmission requirements relative to travelers (passengers, crew, etc.) onboard international commercial airplanes and vessels arriving in and departing from the U.S. (aka the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) Pre-Departure rule). Among other things, the final rule requires airlines to submit passenger/crew manifest data using one of three transmission options within certain timeframes and requires vessels to submit such manifests 60 minutes prior to departure from the U.S. (See ITT's Online Archives, or 07/19/06, 06071910, for BP summary of the proposed rule.) (CBP Final Rule, USCBP-2005-0003; CBP Dec. 07-64, FR Pub 08/23/07, available athttp://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-15985.pdf)

8. TSA Proposes Rule on Secure Flight Program For Passenger Lists, Etc.

The Transportation Security Administration has issued a proposed rule to amend 49 CFR Parts 1540, 1544, and 1560 to implement the Congressional mandate to assume from aircraft operators the function of conducting pre-flight comparisons of airline passenger information to Federal Government watch lists for international and domestic flights. The rule proposes to allow TSA to begin implementation of the "Secure Flight Program," under which TSA would receive passenger and certain non-traveler information, conduct watch list matching against the No Fly and Selectee portions of the Federal Government's consolidated terrorist watch list, and transmit boarding pass printing instructions back to aircraft operators. Comments are due by October 22, 2007. (TSA proposed rule, D/N TSA-2007-28572, dated 08/23/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-15960.pdf

9. State Dept Updates List of Countries Eligible for Trade in Rough Diamonds

The State Department has issued a notice identifying all the participating countries and entities eligible for trade in rough diamonds under the Clean Diamond Trade Act of 2003. According to the State Department, this notice revises the previously published list of June 21, 2007 to include Turkey. (Public Notice 5920, FR Pub 08/31/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-4260.pdf)

10. USDA Temporary Ban on Judith's Fine Foods Int'l due to PACA Violations

The Agricultural Marketing Service has issued a news release announcing that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has cited Judith's Fine Foods International Inc., operating in Carolina, Puerto Rico, for willful, repeated, and flagrant violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). As a result, the company cannot operate in the produce industry until August 17, 2009, and then only if it obtains a PACA license. (AMS No. 168-07, dated 08/17/07, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/news/168-07.htm)

11. AMS Seeks Nominations for Two Vacancies on Peanut Standards Board

The Agricultural Marketing Service has issued a notice seeking nominations for individuals to be considered for selection to the Peanut Standards Board to fill two vacant Board positions for the remainder of a term of office ending June 30, 2010. Written nominations must be received on or before September 27, 2007. (D/N AMS-FV-07-0108; FV07-996-2 N, FR Pub 08/28/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-16977.pdf)