Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. China Predicted to "Only" Grow 9.6% in 2008 Due to Global Downturn

2. Senator Questions FDA on Heparin, Pharmaceutical Inspections in China

On February 14, 2008 Senator Chuck Grassley, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, sent a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration inquiring whether deficiencies at a Chinese manufacturing plant that's never been inspected by the FDA could be behind adverse reactions in hundreds of U.S. consumers to the blood thinner heparin, for which production was recently suspended. Grassley's inquiry follows another sent earlier this month to the FDA inquiring why China, the world's largest producer of active pharmaceutical ingredients, received only 11 FDA inspections in 2007, while other countries with advanced regulatory infrastructures such as France received 24. (Grassley letter with references to the previous inquiry, dated 02/14/08, available at http://grassley.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=1a106dad-b0bf-ee6d-5c35-4cc452dd2c09)

3. AMS Posts Editions of International Egg and Poultry Review to Web site

The Agricultural Marketing Service has posted to its Web site the latest editions of its International Egg and Poultry Review which includes information such as the number of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza cases that have broken out around the world since December 2007; distribution of Russian quotas for imports of pork, beef, and poultry meat for 2008; export trading statistics for national young turkey parts, etc. (International Egg and Poultry Review, Vol. 11, Nos. 01-06 dated 01/02/08 through 02/05/08 available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/POULTRY/mncs/InternationalPoultryandEgg/INTERNATIONALWEEKLYREVIEW.html)

4. CBP Airport & Seaport Inspections User Fee Committee to Hold Meeting

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a notice announcing that its Airport and Seaport Inspections User Fee Advisory Committee will meet in open session on March 5, 2008 in Washington, DC. The tentative agenda includes an overview and discussion of CBP's budget, discussion of reimbursable overtime, and other various topics. (CBP notice, D/N USCBP-2008-0002, FR Pub 02/14/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2769.pdf)

5. NHTSA Announces Possible Vote to Adopt GTR on Head Restraints

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a notice to inform the public that there may be a vote to adopt the Global Technical Regulation on Head Restraints at the March 2008 session of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations. In anticipation of this vote, NHTSA is requesting comments on this GTR to inform its decision for the vote. Written comments may be submitted by March 6, 2008. (NHTSA notice, D/N NHTSA-2008-0016, Notice 1, FR Pub 02/14/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2521.pdf)

6. USTR Proposes to Update its Freedom of Information Act Regulations

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a proposed rule to update its Freedom of Information Act regulations. USTR last made changes to its FOIA regulations in 1975. Since that time, the information relating to USTR has changed, and there have been several changes to the FOIA, which needed to be reflected in the regulations. Public comments must be received on or before April 14, 2008. (USTR proposed rule, FR Pub 02/14/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2254.pdf)

7. NAPPO Outlines, Issues Guidelines for Regional Phytosanitary Standards

The North American Plant Protection Organization has posted NAPPO Regional Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (RSPM) No. 6, dated January 8, 2008. This Standard outlines the process and the format for the development, endorsement, amendment and superseding of NAPPO Regional Standards for Phytosanitary Measures. It also provides guidelines for the development of a plan for the implementation of NAPPO standards. (NAPPO RSPM No. 6, dated 01/08/08, available at http://www.nappo.org/Standards/REVIEW/RSPM6-Rev01-08-e.pdf)

8. ITA Highlights U.S. Export Statistics for 2007

The International Trade Administration has issued a fact sheet containing an overview of 2007 U.S. export statistics, stating that U.S. exports of foods and services grew by 12.2% in 2007, and also spotlights seven free trade agreements with eleven countries that the U.S. has implemented since January 2000. (ITA fact sheet, released 02/14/08, available at http://www.commerce.gov/s/groups/public/@doc/@os/@opa/documents/content/prod01_005203.pdf)

9. TWIC Enrollment for Various Ports

The Transportation Security Administration has issued a notice announcing that enrollment for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential for the Port of Tampa, FL will begin on February 21, 2008; and the Ports of Cincinnati, OH; Richmond, CA; and South Louisiana, LA will begin enrollment on February 22, 2008. (TSA notice, D/Ns TSA-2006-24191; Coast Guard-2006-24196, FR Pub 02/15/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2835.pdf)

10. President Bush Issues EO Regarding Sanctions on Syria

On February 13, 2008, President Bush issued Executive Order 13460, "Blocking Property of Additional Persons in Connection With the National Emergency With Respect to Syria." This EO takes additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in EO 13338 of May 2004, which imposed export and other sanctions against Syria. (Presidential Document, FR Pub 02/15/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/08-761.pdf)

11. APHIS Notice on its EIS for Imported Wood Packing Material

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a notice advising the public of its record of decision for the supplement to the Importation of Solid Wood Packing Material Final Environmental Impact Statement of August 2003. (APHIS notice, D/N APHIS-2006-0152, FR Pub 02/15/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2908.pdf)

12. APHIS Issues Risk Analysis on FMD in South Africa

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a notice announcing the availability of its risk analysis on the foot-and-mouth disease status of the Republic of South Africa and the related disease risks associated with importing animals and animal products into the U.S. from the Republic of South Africa. APHIS will consider all comments received on or before April 15, 2008. (APHIS notice, D/N APHIS-2008-0001, FR Pub 02/15/08, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2912.pdf)

13. CBP Accredits Twelve Companies as Commercial Gaugers and/or Laboratories

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued notices stating that it has accredited and approved the following companies as commercial gaugers and/or laboratories for petroleum and petroleum products, organic chemicals and vegetable oils, and to test petroleum and petroleum products for customs purposes, in accordance with 19 CFR 151.12 and/or 151.13, on the effective dates listed (see individual notice for dates of next triennial inspections):

(Chemical; Coastal; and Intertek - New Haven, CT, FR Pub 02/19/08, available athttp://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-3028.pdf)

(Intertek - Bayamon, PR; NMC; and Saybolt, FR Pub 02/19/08, available athttp://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-3033.pdf)

(SGS - Baltimore, MD; SGS - Corpus Christi, TX; and Dixie, FR Pub 02/19/08, available athttp://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-3034.pdf)

(Inspectorate; Intertek - Freeport, TX; and W.B. Bransom, FR Pub 02/19/08, available athttp://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-3066.pdf)