Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

eTrucker reports that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced that a driver unable to meet the English-language requirement set forth in 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2) may now be placed out of service, not merely cited. However, Mexican carriers that operate exclusively in the border commercial zones are exempt from the change in policy. (eTrucker, available at http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=63651)

3. Citizens Oppose Oklahoma's Membership in SuperCorridor Coalition

The Trucker reports that a citizens group is opposed to Oklahoma's membership in the North American SuperCorridor Coalition, which wants to use interstate highways along with other modes of transportation, such as rail and air service, to improve the flow of goods between the U.S., Mexico and Canada. (The Trucker, dated 10/03/07, available at http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2007/10/3/Oppositionmountingtointernationaltraderoute.aspx)

4. One Million Simplicity and Graco Cribs Recalled Due to 3 Infant Deaths

MSNBC reports that about 1 million Simplicity and Graco cribs were recalled in September after three children became entrapped and suffocated. In all three deaths, consumers had installed the drop-rail side of the crib upside down, creating a gap in the crib that the children had slid into and suffocated. (MSNBC, dated 09/21/07, available at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20907633/)

5. EU Antitrust Regulators Investigating U.S. Qualcomm's Royalty Fees

The Los Angeles Times reports that the European Union's antitrust regulators are investigating U.S. wireless technology company Qualcomm Inc.'s high royalty fees for next-generation mobile-phone chips. (LA Times, dated 10/02/07, available at http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-qual2oct02,1,1194560.story?ctrack=1&cset=true)

6. APHIS Informs Public of International Standard-Setting Activities

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a notice informing the public of international standard-setting activities of the World Organization for Animal Health, the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention, and the North American Plant Protection Organization, as well as soliciting public comment on the standards to be considered. (APHIS notice, D/N APHIS-2007-0085, FR Pub 09/25/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-18877.pdf)

7. FMCSA Announces Availability of Grant Funds for Border CMV Security

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a notice announcing the availability of grant funding under the fiscal year (FY) 2008 Border Enforcement Grant (BEG) program. According to the FMCSA, this is a discretionary grant program that provides funding for border commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety programs and related enforcement activities and projects. Entities and states that share a land border with another country are eligible to receive grant funding. Applications must be submitted by November 1, 2007. (FR Pub 10/05/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19677.pdf)

8. CBP Environmental Assessment/Finding of WHTI for Land, Sea

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice announcing the availability of a Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative in the Land and Sea Environments to the public for review. (D/N USCBP-2007-0060, FR Pub 09/26/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19035.pdf; PEA, finding document available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)

9. APHIS Notice on Draft Pest Risk Assessment for Argentina Lemons

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a notice announcing that it is extending the comment period for its notice of availability and request for comments regarding a draft pest risk assessment that has been prepared relative to APHIS' consideration of a request to allow the importation into the continental U.S. of fresh lemons from Argentina. Comments must be received on or before December 11, 2007. (D/N APHIS-2007-0112, FR Pub 09/27/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19089.pdf)

10. ITA Recruiting for Clean Energy Trade Mission to China, India

The International Trade Administration has issued a notice announcing that the Commerce Department is organizing a Clean Energy Trade Mission to China and

India, January 8-17, 2008 that will focus on renewable energy, biofuels, energy efficiency, clean coal, and distributed generation. Recruitment will close on November 5, 2007. (FR Pub 09/24/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-4681.pdf)

11. WTO to Examine Accession Application of Comoros

The World Trade Organization has issued a news release announcing that on October 9, 2007, the General Council established a working party to examine the application of the Comoros to accede to the WTO. The establishment of the working party for the Comoros brings the number of countries negotiating their accession into the WTO to 29. (News release, dated 10/09/07, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news07_e/comoros_oct07_e.htm)

12. FSIS Updates Lists of Plants Certified to Export Meat, Etc. to U.S.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has updated its lists of eligible foreign establishments certified to export meat, poultry, and/or egg products to the U.S. for the following countries: Chile, Canada, Italy, and Denmark. (Lists, updated 10/08/07 and 10/11/07, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Eligible_Foreign_Establishments/index.asp)

13. FMC Lists OTI Applications

The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a notice that lists those applying for ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) licenses as a non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC) or NVOCC/ ocean freight forwarder (FF) or NVOCC/FF OTI, as follows:

FMC notice (FR Pub 10/03/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19563.pdf