Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Journal of Commerce reports that a federal appeals court denied a request for an emergency injunction to stop the Department of Transportation's U.S.-Mexico cross-border trucking pilot program, paving the way for the start of the program, which the DOT hopes to begin as early as September 6, 2007. The program did not begin on September 1 as some had said it would because the DOT's inspector general had not completed the assessment of the program, which a DOT spokesperson stated was expected to be delivered September 5, 2007. (JoC, dated 09/05/07, www.joc.com)
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1. Court Denies Injunction, Paves the Way for U.S.-Mexico Trucking Pilot to Begin as Early as Sept. 6
2. Mattel Announces Third Recall of Chinese-Made Toys for Lead Paint
Associated Press reports that Mattel, Inc., in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, announced that it is recalling more than 700,000 Chinese-made toys that have excessive amounts of lead paint. This announcement is Mattel's third major recall of Chinese-made toys because of lead paint in a month. (AP, dated 09/04/07, available at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20592481/.)
3. California Spinach Recall Divides Growers, Critics
MSNBC.com reports that certain consumer advocates and lawmakers say that a California company's August 2007 recall of spinach because of a salmonella scare shows that the federal government must do more to protect the nation's food supply, but industry officials call it proof that their voluntary regulations are working. The company recalled 8,000 cartons of fresh spinach after salmonella was found during a routine test of spinach it was processing for shipment; more than 90% of the possibly contaminated cartons never reached stores. (MSNBC.com, dated 08/30/07, available at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20514868)
4. Industrial Nations Shy Away from 25-40% Greenhouse Gases Cuts by 2020
Yahoo! News reports that industrial nations were shying away from cutting greenhouse gases by 25-40% below 1990 levels by 2020 at United Nations talks at the end of August. A draft text at the talks dropped a demand that developed nations should be "guided" by such cuts. According to delegates, the European Union and many developing nations such as China and India wanted industrial states to use the stringent cuts to guide future talks, but Russia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand and Switzerland objected. (Yahoo! News, dated 08/31/07, available at http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070831/wl_canada_nm/canada_climate_col_4&printer=1;_ylt=At9_u5Gshv3Z4FOmKO_7OGjxrGIF)
5. First Vietnamese Vessel to Anchor at a U.S. Port Arrived August 23
Marine Link reports that the Vinashin Victory oil tanker, which anchored at the port of San Francisco on August 23, 2007, became the first Vietnamese ship to anchor at a U.S. port. (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/24/07 news, 07082420, for BP summary of the U.S.-Vietnam Maritime Agreement which entered into force July 15, 2007 and gave greater bilateral maritime access.) (Marine Link, dated 08/29/07, available at http://www.marinelink.com/Story/VietnamShipAnchorsinU.S.Port-208678.html)
6. BIS Denies Export Privileges, Assesses Penalties for Activities Related to Unlicensed Export of Microwave Amplifiers
BIS has issued two Orders denying certain export privileges for a period of 25 years from August 21, 2007 to Spector International, Inc. dba Norsal Export Limited and to Norman Spector for activities related to the export of microwave amplifiers to China without the required Department of Commerce license. BIS has also assessed a civil penalty of $462,000 against each, of which Spector is required to pay $22,000, with the remaining amounts to be suspended for 1 year and thereafter waived. (Norsal Order, 06-BIS-14, FR Pub 08/29/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-4226.pdf) (Spector Order, 06-BIS-13, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-4226.pdf)
7. BIS' Transportation & Related Equipment TAC to Hold Partial Open Meeting
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a notice announcing that its Transportation and Related Equipment Technical Advisory Committee, which advises the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration with respect to technical questions that affect the level of export controls applicable to transportation and related equipment or technology, will hold a partially open meeting on September 12, 2007 in Washington, DC. The public session will include working group reports and presentations by the public. (BIS notice, FR Pub 08/31/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-4281.pdf)
8. State Advisory Committee on Private Int'l Law to Hold Open Meeting
The State Department has issued a notice announcing that its Advisory Committee on Private International Law will hold a public meeting on October 1, 2007 in Washington, DC to discuss the general "state of the world" developments in international private law, including the areas of investment securities law, computer and e-commerce law, etc. (See FR notice for instructions for those planning to attend the meeting.) (Public Notice 5887, FR Pub 08/23/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-16682.pdf)
9. FDA Announces Educational Forum, Workshop on Medical Devices
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a notice announcing a public workshop entitled "Medical Devices 101: An Educational Forum," to be held on October 26, 2007 in Dallas, TX. This public workshop is intended to provide an overview on FDA's medical device requirements to entrepreneurs, startup companies, and small businesses. (See FR notice for registration information, etc.) (FR Pub 08/21/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-16375.pdf)
10. ACI Announces Forum on Implementation of New China Export Controls
The American Conference Institute has announced the second international forum on China trade compliance on October 16 and 17, 2007 in San Francisco, CA, focusing on an update on the implementation of the Bureau of Industry and Security's recent final rule revising U.S. licensing requirements and licensing policy on exports and reexports to China. (Details and registration available at http://www.americanconference.com/chinatrade.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):
AMS 1 Information Collection (FR Pub 08/28/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-16972.pdf
AMS 2 Information Collections (FR Pub 08/29/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-4241.pdf
APHIS Information Collection (FR Pub 08/28/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-17015.pdf
BIS 1 Information Collection (FR Pub 08/28/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-16973.pdf
BIS 2, 3 and 4 Information Collections (FR Pub 08/28/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-16975.pdf
ITA Information Collection (FR Pub 08/28/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-16966.pdf
ITC Information Collection (FR Pub 08/29/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-17084.pdf