Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. U.S.-China Commission to Meet on China's Industrial Policy

2. Senator Grassley Asks President to Clarify NAFTA Intentions

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Grassley has sent a letter to President Obama asking him to clarify his intentions regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Grassley wrote to follow up on the President's written trade agenda released during the week of March 2, 2009. The document said the President will work with Mexico and Canada to identify ways in which the NAFTA could be improved without having an adverse effect on trade. (Senator Grassley press release, dated 03/05/09, available at http://finance.senate.gov/press/Gpress/2009/prg030509.pdf.)

3. FY 2009 Appropriations Continuing Resolution Enacted

On March 6, 2009, the House and Senate passed H.J. Res. 38, a resolution continuing fiscal year 2009 appropriations through March 11, 2009. President Obama signed H.J. Res. 38 into law on March 6, 2009. (The provision that previously continued FY 2009 appropriations (H.R. 2638) expired on March 6, 2009.) (Congressional Record, dated 03/09/09, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r111:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20090306); White House statement, dated 03/06/09, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/03/06/President-Obama-signs-continuing-resolution/.)

4. Transportation Committee Approves FAA Authorization Bill

In a March 5, 2009 full Committee mark-up session, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved H.R. 915, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009, a bill to provide $70 billion to the Federal Aviation Administration and federal aviation infrastructure programs for the next four years. (Press release, dated 03/05/09, available at http://transportation.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=848.)

5. House Financial Services Committee Announces Agenda

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Frank held a press conference on March 5, 2009 to discuss his committee's agenda for the next few months, which includes the internet gambling issue. (The U.S. position on internet gambling has been the subject of a World Trade Organization dispute and compensation.) (Press conference transcript available at http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/financialsvcs_dem/press0306093.shtml.)

6. DHS Announces Economic Stimulus Aviation Projects

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today $1 billion in aviation security projects to be funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (i.e., economic stimulus bill). (Press release, dated 03/05/09, available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1236285187174.shtm)

7. Canada and EU Move Forward on Possible Economic Agreement

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada reports that Canada and the European Union have agreed on the areas to be negotiated in a possible comprehensive economic agreement, including trade in goods and services, as well as areas such as investment, technical barriers to trade and regulatory cooperation. (News release, dated 03/05/09, available at http://w01.international.gc.ca/minpub/Publication.aspx?isRedirect=True&publication_id=386908&language=E&docnumber=60)

8. FDA Notice on Skin Protectant Astringent Drug Products

The Food and Drug Administration is amending the final monograph for over-the-counter skin protectant astringent drug products to clarify that certain aluminum acetate solutions are generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE) and not misbranded as astringent drug products. The amendment also describes how manufacturers should re-label these products for this change. (FR Pub, 03/06/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-4746.pdf)

9. WTO Opens Another "Zeroing" Appellate Body Hearing to Public

The World Trade Organization reports that at the request of the parties in the dispute "United States - Laws, Regulations and Methodology for Calculating Dumping Margins (Zeroing) - Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by the European Communities", the Appellate Body has decided to open its hearing on March 23-24, 2009 to public viewing at the WTO Headquarters in Geneva. (Information available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news09_e/hear_ds294_23mar09_e.htm)

10. USTR Cancels Meeting of Small and Minority Business Committee

The U.S. Trade Representative is announcing the cancellation of the March 9, 2009 meeting of the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business (ITAC-11). (Notice, dated 03/09/09/ available at http://www.federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2009-05025_PI.pdf)

11. Millennium Challenge Corp. to Meet March 11, 2009

The Millennium Challenge Corporation will hold a meeting on March 11, 2009 in Washington, D.C. to discuss issues related to suspension and/or termination of Compact programs with certain countries, discuss progress on proposed and existing Compacts with certain MCA-eligible countries, etc. (Notice, dated 03/09/09, available at http://www.federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2009-04993_PI.pdf)

12. DR-CAFTA Environmental Council to Meet

The State Dept is announcing that the Environmental Affairs Council of the Dominican Republic - Central America- U.S. Free Trade Agreement will meet in Costa Rica on March 10, 2009. (FR Pub, 03/06/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-4805.pdf)

13. Treasury Designates 11 Companies Under WMD Executive Order

The Treasury Department has designated 11 companies under Executive Order 13382 for their ties to Iran's Bank Melli. EO 13382 is an authority aimed at freezing the assets of Weapons of Mass Destruction proliferators and those who support them. The Office of Foreign Assets Control has also updated its Specially Designated Nationals list.

Bank Melli Iran Investment Company

Bank Melli Printing and Publishing Co.

Melli Investment Holding International

Mehr Cayman Ltd.

Cement Investment and Development Company

Mazandaran Cement Company

Shomal Cement Company

Mazandaran Textile Company

Melli Agrochemical Company PJS

First Persian Equity Fund

BMIIC International General Trading Ltd.

(Press release, dated 03/03/09, available at http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/tg46.htm)

14. CPSC Lists Voluntary Recalls

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published notice of the following voluntary recalls:

CPSC recalls available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerelmar09.html

15. Canada's D-FAIT Posts Lists of Certain Customs Brokers, Quota Holders

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada's (D-FAIT) Export and Import Controls Bureau has posted the following three documents:

List of Export Import Controls System On-line Customs Brokers

2009 Ice Cream Quota Holders' List

2009 Natural Milk Constituents Quota Holders' List

16. FMC Lists OTI Applications

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

FMC notice (FR Pub 03/04/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-4596.pdf

17. 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):

FDA 1 Information Collection (FR Pub 02/25/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-3938.pdf

FDA 2 Information Collection (FR Pub 03/03/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-4457.pdf

BIS Information Collection (FR Pub 03/03/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-4382.pdf

FAS Information Collection (FR Pub 03/05/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-4696.pdf