Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Clinton, Obama Back California's Harbor Trucker Plan

2. Baucus Will Not Support FTA Pacts before TAA Overhaul

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said that he will not support or move through the Senate any pending free trade agreement until a new Trade Adjustment Assistance law is in place for U.S. workers. Baucus, the head of the Senate panel with jurisdiction over U.S. trade policy, said that he intends to advance legislation reauthorizing and improving the TAA program in the next few weeks, and that the program's successful renewal and expansion must precede congressional votes on planned FTAs with Colombia, Panama, and Korea. (Senate Finance Committee press release, dated 01/30/08, available at http://www.senate.gov/finance/press/Bpress/2008press/prb013008a.pdf)

3. List of TWIC Enrollment Center Addresses

The Transportation Security Administration has posted a list, dated January 17, 2008, identifying the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) enrollment centers opening dates and addresses for all that have been announced in the Federal Register. (TSA, available at http://www.tsa.gov/assets/doc/twic_enrollment_centers.doc)

4. Justice Dept Says Two More Plead Guilty in Turtle Smuggling Case

The Justice Department has issued a press release stating that Jorge Caraveo of El Paso, Texas, and Carlos Leal Barragan of Jalisco, Mexico, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Denver to felony charges in connection with the smuggling of sea turtle and other exotic skins and skin products into the U.S. from Mexico. Caraveo, Leal Barragan, and nine others were indicted in Denver in August 2007 following a multi-year undercover investigation conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Chinese nationals Fu Yiner and Wang Hong, and Oscar Cueva of McAllen, Texas, pleaded guilty to smuggling charges earlier this month. (DOJ press release, dated 01/29/08, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2008/January/08_enrd_074.html)

5. CPSC Provisional Acceptance of Settlement Agreement and Order with Vornado Liquidating Trust

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a notice publishing a provisionally-accepted Settlement Agreement with Vornado Liquidating Trust for and on behalf of Vornado Air Circulation Systems, Inc., containing a civil penalty of $500,000. Vornado failed to report incidents of overheating and fire from defective heaters. (CPSC notice, D/N 08-C0003, FR Pub 02/05/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/08-491.pdf)

6. State Dept Receives Application to Construct a Border Crossing Facility at Buffalo/Fort Erie

The State Department has issued a notice announcing that it received an application from Ambassador Niagara Signature Bridge Group for a Presidential Permit to authorize the construction, operation, and maintenance of a new border crossing facility on the U.S.-Canada border at Buffalo, NY and Fort Erie, Ontario. Comments are due by April 28, 2008. (Public Notice 6090, FR Pub 02/05/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2080.pdf)

7. Port of Miami Announces Perishable Work Group Participants

CBP's Port of Miami issued an Information Bulletin announcing the selection of the core participants for the Florida Liaison Agriculture Group on the Miami Service Port. The function of this work group is to improve the process flow of CBP agriculture inspections while ensuring the biological soundness and enforcing safeguarding protocols. (Info Bulletin No. 08-018, dated 02/01/08, available by emailing BP at documents@brokerpower.com)

8. Indonesia, Barbados Allow Market Access to U.S. Beef of All Ages

According to a statement by the acting U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary, Indonesia and Barbados have agreed to fully comply with international trade standards regarding beef and beef products by allowing complete market access for U.S. beef and beef products of all ages. (FAS, dated 01/23/08, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/PressRelease/pressrel_dout.asp?Entry=valid&PrNum=0026-08)

8. Director of Singapore Firm Arraigned on Charges of Illegal Exports to Iran

The Justice Department reports that that Laura Wang-Woodford, the director of the Singapore-based aviation company, Monarch Aviation Pte, Ltd., was arraigned on February 1, 2008 on charges that she illegally exported controlled U.S. military aircraft components and shipped commercial aircraft components to Iran. (DoJ press release, dated 02/01/08, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2008/February/08_nsd_083.html)

9. APHIS Removes Surrey County, England from List of FMD-Free Regions

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued an interim rule amending the regulations governing the importation of certain animals, meat, and other animal products by removing Surrey County, England, from the list of regions considered to be free of foot-and-mouth disease. As a result of this interim rule, the importation of ruminants and swine and the fresh meat and other animal products of ruminants and swine from Surrey County, England is restricted. This interim rule is effective January 30, 2008; however, APHIS is imposing this restriction retroactively to August 3, 2007. Comments are due on or before March 31, 2008. (Notice, D/N APHIS-2007-0124, FR Pub 01/30/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-1653.pdf)

10. APHIS to Issue Permits for Importation of Cherries from Australia

APHIS has issued a notice announcing its decision, effective January 30, 2008, to begin issuing permits for the importation into the continental U.S. and Hawaii of sweet cherries from Australia. Based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, APHIS believes that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of sweet cherries from Australia. (Notice, D/N APHIS-2007-0128, FR Pub 01/30/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-1682.pdf)

11. GAO Testimony on FDA's Food Protection Plan

The Government Accountability Office released its congressional testimony entitled, "Federal Oversight of Food Safety: FDA's Food Protection Plan Proposes Positive First Steps, but Capacity to Carry Them Out Is Critical." Among other things, the GAO recommended that FDA establish equivalence agreements with other countries to shift some oversight responsibility to foreign governments, explore the potential for certifying third party inspections, and consider accrediting private laboratories to inspect seafood. (GAO-08-435T, dated 01/29/08, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08435t.pdf)

13. ITA Receives Application for Export Trade Certificate of Review

The International Trade Administration's office of Export Trading Company Affairs has issued a notice stating that it has received an application from Artalex Global for an Export Trade Certificate of Review, which if granted, will protect the holder and members identified in the Certificate from specific antitrust actions. Written comments should be submitted no later than 20 days after January 23, 2008. (ITA notice, FR Pub 01/23/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-1114.pdf)

14. GAO Reports on DHS and State WHTI Implementation

The Government Accountability Office has issued a report entitled, "Observations on Implementing the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative." WHTI is the Department of Homeland Security's and the State Department's effort to specify acceptable documents and implement document requirements at 326 air, land and sea ports of entry. GAO states its observations on the steps taken and the challenges faced by DHS and State in implementing WHTI. (GAO-08-274R, dated 12/20/07, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08274r.pdf)

15. GAO Reports on FMCSA Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 Initiative

The Government Accountability Office has issued a report entitled, "Motor Carrier Safety: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Has Developed a Reasonable Framework for Managing and Testing Its Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 Initiative." GAO was asked to conduct a broad assessment of FMCSA's progress in planning and implementing CSA 2010. Because much work remains to be done on the development and implementation of CSA 2010, GAO focused on how FMCSA has managed its initiative, rather than assessing safety benefits that might arise from it. (GAO-08-242R, dated 12/20/07, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08242r.pdf)

16. Recent CPSC Press Releases on Recalls

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued separate press releases (dated 01/01/08 - 01/31/08) announcing that the following companies, in cooperation with the CPSC, are voluntarily recalling the products listed below. Due to the large number of recalls, this is Part II of a multi-part series of summaries. (Press releases available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prereljan08.html)