Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Port of LA Reports 32% Drop in February Container Count

2. Census Says U.S. Trade Deficit Decreased in January 2009

The Census Bureau reports that the U.S. international deficit in goods and services decreased to $36.0 billion in January from $39.9 billion (revised) in December, as imports decreased more than exports. (News release, dated 03/13/09, available at http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/current_press_release/press.html)

3. Miami Information Bulletin on Inspection of PPQ Pre-Cleared Cargo

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Miami has issued an Information Bulletin notifying all interested trade partners of the procedures that CBP uses in the inspection of U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection Quarantine pre-cleared cargo. (Bulletin 09-020, available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)

4. Senate Receives Marantis Nomination for Deputy USTR

On March 16, 2009, the Senate received the nomination of Demetrios Marantis to be Deputy U.S. Trade Representative. Marantis is the Chief International Trade Counsel for the Senate Finance Committee. (Congressional Record, dated 03/16/09, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r111:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20090316).)

5. Congressional Letter Opposes Textile Monitoring/Safeguard Provisions in FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Explanatory Statement

On March 12, 2009, the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees sent a letter to the President expressing concerns about the apparel monitoring program contained in the explanatory statement of the fiscal year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act. The letter specifically asks that the International Trade Administration refrain from implementing the monitoring program as it is duplicative and unnecessary. The letter also asks the ITA to refrain from taking the textile enforcement actions mentioned in the explanatory statement, as those safeguards have expired. (Letter, dated 03/12/09, available by emailing documents@brokerpower.com.)

6. White House Advisor's Remarks on Upcoming Summit of the Americas

The State Department has posted remarks at the Inter-American Dialogue by the White House Advisor for the Summit of the Americas. The remarks address the upcoming Summit of the Americas, which will take place in five weeks. (State Department press release, dated 03/12/09, available at http://www.state.gov/p/wha/rls/rm/2009/120328.htm)

7. DHS Testimony at Hearing on SBI, Border Control, and Border Violence

DHS has posted the March 10, 2009 testimony of Deputy Assistant Secretary Mark Koumans, Office of International Affairs, before the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Homeland Security Appropriations on "Secure Border Initiative (SBI), Control of the Land Border, and DHS Response to Violence on the Border with Mexico." (DHS testimony available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/testimony/testimony_1237218661657.shtm.)

8. Mandatory COOL Final Rule Took Effect on March 16, 2009

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's final rule for the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) program for certain agricultural goods at retail took effect on March 16, 2009. USDA states that the COOL final rule pertains to the country of origin labeling at retail of muscle cuts and ground beef (including veal), pork, lamb, goat, and chicken; wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish; fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables; peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, and ginseng. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/24/09 news, 09022415, for BP reminder on the effective date of the COOL final rule with links to previous summaries.)

9. GAO Report on Economic Impact of Applying U.S. Immigration Law to the Northern Mariana Islands

The Government Accountability Office has issued a report titled: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Managing Potential Economic Impact of Applying U.S. Immigration Law Requires Coordinated Federal Decisions and Additional Data. (GAO report available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08791.pdf)

10. OMB Completes Review of EPA Proposed Rule on Greenhouse Gas Mandatory Reporting

On March 9, 2009, the Office of Management and Budget completed its review of an Environmental Protection Agency proposed rule on greenhouse gas mandatory reporting. According to previously posted information, this proposed rule would establish monitoring, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements on facilities that produce, import, or emit greenhouse gases above a specific threshold, in order to provide comprehensive and accurate data to support a range of future climate policy options. To see that the review has been competed, click link below and select "Environmental Protection Agency" from second dropdown box. (OMB menu available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoReviewSearch)

11. European Eel Imports/Exports Require CITES Appendix-II Documents

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that effective March 13, 2009, the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is now included in Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix II. All imports into the U.S. or exports/re-exports from the U.S. require appropriate CITES Appendix-II documents. Any shipments of European eel imported, exported, or re-exported without the required CITES documents are subject to seizure and forfeiture. (FWS notice, dated 03/13/09, available at http://www.fws.gov/le/PubBulletins/PB031309IntlTradeInEuropeanEel.pdf)

12. EPA Meeting on Proposed Rule to Require Importers and Manufacturers to Test Certain HPV Chemical Substances

The Environmental Protection Agency will hold a public meeting on March 31, 2009 in Washington, D.C. on its July 2008 proposed rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to require manufacturers, importers, and processors of certain high production volume (HPV) chemical substances to conduct testing to obtain screening level data for health and environmental effects and chemical fate. (EPA notice, FR Pub 03/16/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5628.pdf)

13. NMFS Correction for April 6th Public Meeting on Proposed Rule to Ban Fish/Products of Countries Due to Illegal Bycatch, Etc.

The National Marine Fisheries Service is correcting certain details relevant to the location of its April 6, 2009 Silver Springs, Maryland public meeting on its January 2009 proposed rule to implement identification and certification procedures to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities and bycatch of protected living marine resources. The meeting that will take place Monday, April 6, 2009 will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza, Lincoln Ballroom, 8777 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910. (Under the proposed rule, nations that are "negatively certified" could face U.S. import prohibitions on their fish and fish products (and in certain situations, other products as well), etc.) (NMFS corrections, FR Pub 03/16/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5483.pdf)

14. EU to Ban Dimethylfumarate (DMF) in Certain Imported Products

The Office of Textiles and Apparel has announced that on January 29, 2009, European Union Member States voted in favor of a draft European Commission Decision to ensure that consumer products, such as leather furniture or footwear containing the strongly sensitizing (DMF) dimethylfumarate are not placed on the market. Products already on the EU market would have to be recalled and withdrawn without delay. (OTEXA notice, dated 03/12/09, http://web.ita.doc.gov/otexa/hotiss.nsf/7bfa72c94f543da685256e5b00498a4d/6714105d2bb15b9685257577006d6f24?OpenDocument)

15. EU, U.S. Faced Numerous Questions on Their Domestic Agricultural Support in WTO Meeting

According to the World Trade Organization, European Union and U.S. domestic support for agriculture featured heavily among delegations' questions in a March 12, 2009 Agriculture Committee meeting devoted almost entirely to monitoring how WTO members are implementing their present commitments in agriculture. (WTO news release, dated 03/12/09, available at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news09_e/ag_com_12mar09_e.htm)