Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
On June 25, 2008, the Federal Maritime Commission was briefed by industry representatives of the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA) and the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA). The industry presentation focused on economic conditions affecting capacity and equipment availability in the U.S. export trade. (FMC press release, NR 08-008, dated 06/26/08, available at http://www.fmc.gov/speeches/newsrelease.asp?SPEECH_ID=248)
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1. FMC Receives Industry Briefing on U.S. Export Trade Issues
2. FTC Submits Staff Comment on Proposed Congestion Rule for LaGuardia
The Federal Trade Commission has approved a staff comment to the Federal Aviation Administration on a proposed congestion management rule for LaGuardia Airport. As part of a proposal to alleviate congestion on LaGuardia's runways, the FAA has proposed auctioning a limited number of landing and take-off slots for a 10-year ownership period. The comment, prepared by staff of the FTC's Bureau of Economics, supports the FAA's effort, finding the measured introduction of an auction a reasonable approach to improving the current efficiency of slot allocation. (Press release, dated 06/19/08, available at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/06/laguardiafyi.shtm)
3. U.S., Brazil Agree to Expanded Air Services
The Transportation Department reports that the U.S. and Brazil have concluded an agreement that will provide for a nearly 50 percent increase in passenger flights between the two countries as well as eliminate restrictions on the number of airlines that can provide U.S.-Brazil air service. (DOT press release, DOT-87-08, dated 06/26/08, available at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot8708.htm)
4. Shanghai Port Forbids Certain Dangerous Goods During Olympic Games
On May 13, 2008, the Port of Shanghai, China, issued an official notice pertaining to the handling of dangerous goods during the Olympic Games: from July 18th to August 25th, all dangerous goods containers transporting certain named ingredients are "forbidden to declare in the port;" from July 20 to August 31, the port will stop any work on those subject dangerous goods. Special cases must get the approval from Port management. (Notice, dated 05/29/08, available at http://www.amcham-shanghai.org/AmChamPortal/MCMS/Presentation/Template/Content.aspx?Type=32&Guid=%7BA6518DBC-BD50-4DDB-BB77-EF06F0EF9E30%7D)
5. HHS Secretary Travels to Mexico, Central America to Advance Product Safety Efforts
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Leavitt was scheduled to visit Mexico and Central America during the week of June 20, 2008 to strengthen efforts to improve the safety of products and to advance joint programs to improve health care in the region. (Press release, dated 06/20/08, available at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2008pres/06/20080620a.html)
6. USDA Signs Agreement with Philippines on Agricultural Cooperation
Agriculture Secretary Schafer signed a memorandum of agreement with Philippine Agriculture Secretary Yap to promote agricultural trade and investment between the two countries. The objective is to advance agricultural cooperation, productivity and sustainable natural resource management through science and technology collaboration. In addition to the memorandum, USDA will sponsor a trade and investment mission to the Philippines some time in the fall. (USDA press release, dated 06/24/08, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/PressRelease/pressrel_dout.asp?Entry=valid&PrNum=0100-08)
7. Transportation & Infrastructure Leadership Statements from Highway & Transit Hearing
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has posted the statements of Chairman Oberstar and Subcommittee Chair DeFazio's opening statements from the June 24, 2008 hearing entitled "Connecting Communities: The Role of The Surface Transportation Network in Moving People and Freight." (Statements, dated 06/24/08, available at http://transportation.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=692.)
8. Senator Calls for Consideration of Seasonal Port at Fort Fairfield, ME
Senate Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Collins has issued a press release urging U.S. Customs and Border Protection to consider establishing a seasonal port of entry at the U.S./Canadian border along Russell Road in Fort Fairfield, Maine. This is in response to CBP's announcement that it intended to close Russell Road. (Press release, dated 06/24/08, available at http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&Affiliation=R&PressRelease_id=c48d53ef-4812-4d49-9c72-1e5489e62e10&Month=6&Year=2008.)
9. Senator Calls for Improvements to Transportation Systems During Climate Change Hearing
Senator Stevens, Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, called for improvements to the planning, design, construction, and operation of transportation systems in response to climate change impacts. (See ITT's Online Archives or 06/13/08 news, 08061330, for BP summary announcing this hearing.) (Committee press release, dated 06/24/08, available at http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=14837b91-52fa-4289-b08c-767e562f48d6&Month=6&Year=20.)
10. CARB Charts Course to Reduce California Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The California Air Resources Board released its Climate Change Draft Scoping Plan to reduce California's greenhouse gas emissions by 30% over the next 12 years. Among the draft measures and policies included in the plan are a cap and trade program and a requirement that utilities produce a third of their energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar. (CARB press release, dated 06/26/08, available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr062608.htm and Climate Change Draft Scoping Plan, dated June 2008, available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/scopingplan/document/draftscopingplan.pdf)
11. New Cars Sold in California to Carry Environmental Impact Label Jan 1st
According to the California Air Resources Board, beginning January 1, 2009 all new cars sold in California will carry a label which clearly informs consumers of the state's assessment of the vehicle's environmental impact. The new regulation signed into law last week by the Secretary of State, creates a simple ranking system that will provide consumers with practical information that can be used to choose the most environmentally friendly vehicle that meets their transportation needs. Showroom models could start showing these labels as early as July 2008. (Release 08-55, dated 06/19/08, available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr061908b.htm)
12. FAS Announces Quality Samples Program Allocations for FY 2008
The Foreign Agricultural Service announced funding allocations totaling more than $1.4 million to 13 organizations under the fiscal year 2008 Quality Samples Program (QSP). The allocations are being awarded to help expand export sales by promoting awareness of U.S. agricultural products to new foreign buyers. (Press release, dated 06/23/08, available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/PressRelease/pressrel_dout.asp?Entry=valid&PrNum=0098-08)
13. Cape Verde to Join WTO
On June 23, 2008, Cape Verde informed the World Trade Organization that it had accepted its membership package. Cape Verde will become the WTO's 153rd member on July 23, 2008. (Press release, dated 06/23/08, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/acc_capverde_june08_e.htm)
14. EPA Final Rule on Exhaust Emission Standers for Certain Snowmobiles
The Environmental Protection Agency issued a direct final rule removing the nitrogen (NOx) component from the Phase 3 snowmobile emission standard calculation outlined in its November 2002 final rule, as required by certain litigation, among other things. The final rule is effective August 25, 2008, unless EPA receives adverse comment by July 25, 2008. The EPA also issued a proposed rule on these actions. (Final rule, D/N EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0124; FRL-8684-6, FR Pub 06/25/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-14411.pdf; Proposed rule, D/N EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0124; FRL-8684-5, FR Pub 06/25/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-14414.pdf)
15. Importer Settles with TTB for Allegedly Removing Goods from Customs Custody without Approval
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau announced the acceptance of a $59,000 offer-in compromise to settle alleged violations by the Lebanese Arak Corporation, located in Glendale, California. Lebanese Arak, a duly qualified importer of malt beverages, wine, and distilled spirits, is alleged to have imported and removed distilled spirits from Customs custody without valid certificates of label approval, failed to have paid the proper Federal excise tax on imported distilled spirits, and altered documents with intent to defraud. (FY-08-17, dated 06/23/08, available at http://www.ttb.gov/press/fy08/press_release-lebanese-arak-settlement.pdf)
16. Second Texas Man Sentenced for Smuggling Protected Sea Turtles
The Justice Department announced that Oscar Cueva, of McAllen, Texas, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for his participation in the sale and smuggling of sea turtle and other exotic skins and skin products into the U.S. from Mexico. (Press release, dated 06/20/08, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2008/June/08-enrd-554.html)
17. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports
FAS issued the following GAIN reports:
Australia Biotechnology: ABARE Report Indicates GM Crops Will Provide Economic Benefits to Australia
Bahrain FAIRS: Bahrain Proposes New Food Standards
Brazil Biotechnology: Biosafety Council Approves Two Biotech Corn Varieties
Russian Federation Organic Products: New SanPiN for Organic Products
Thailand Biotechnology: Biotech Field Trials: Efforts to Clarify Cabinet Guidelines
Turkey Grain and Feed: TMO's Announcement of Rice Tender
18. USDA Seeks Nominations for Peanut Board
The U.S. Department of Agriculture seeks nominations of six individuals to serve on the Peanut Standards Board for terms of office ending June 30, 2011. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, which the Peanut Standards Board advises on quality issues, administers the regulations for peanut quality standards for domestic and imported peanuts. Nominations must be received on or before July 17, 2008. (USDA press release, dated 06/25/08, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateU&navID=Newsroom&page=Newsroom&resultType=Details&dDocName=STELPRDC5070272&dID=95304&wf=false&description=USDASeeksNominationsforthePeanutStandardsBoard&topNav=Newsroom&leftN)
19. DHS to Host Public Workshop on Government Data Mining
The Department of Homeland Security Privacy Office will host a public workshop, Implementing Privacy Protections in Government Data Mining. The two-day workshop will be held on July 24 and 25, 2008 in Washington, DC. Written comments should be received on or before July 17, 2008. (DHS notice, D/N DHS-2008-0061, FR Pub 06/25/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-14394.pdf)
20. The Foreign Trade Zone Board issued the following:
FTZ 155 - Expansion of FTZ 155 - Calhoun and Victoria Counties, Texas, Area