Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. Senate Committee Favorably Reports Locke Commerce Secretary Nomination

2. Ways & Means March 26th Hearing on Climate Change Legislation

The House Ways and Means Committee has issued a press release announcing that it will be continuing its series of hearings on climate change with a hearing on March 26, 2009. The March 26, 2009 hearing will focus on a discussion of the ways that climate change legislation can be designed to reduce or eliminate price volatility while still achieving specific science-based environmental objectives. (Press release available at http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=printfriendly&id=7609)

3. Senate Again Receives Marantis Deputy USTR Nomination

On March 17, 2009, the Senate received the nomination of Demetrios J. Marantis to be a Deputy U.S. Trade Representative. (Marantis' previous March 16, 2009 nomination was withdrawn.) Marantis is the Chief International Trade Counsel for the Senate Finance Committee. (Congressional Record, dated 03/17/09, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r111:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20090317)

4. Amended Import Specialist and Entry Team Directory & Market Assignment Guide for LA/LB

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Port of Los Angeles has issued an amendedPublicBulletin providing updated information regarding commodities and personnel assigned to import specialist and entry teams at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport. Effective April 6, 2009, revisions are being made in the assignment of HTS numbers to the various teams at the LA/LB Seaport. The directory attached to the Bulletin provides up-to-date information regarding HTS assignments, supervisor names, and telephone numbers for LA/LB import specialist and entry teams. (Bulletin LA09-010A, dated 03/17/09, available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)

5. 2008 Surface Trade Increased 4.1% with Canada & Mexico from 2007

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics has announced that surface transportation trade between the U.S. and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 4.1 percent higher in 2008 than in 2007, reaching $830 billion. (BTS press release, dated 03/18/09, available at http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/2009/bts014_09/html/bts014_09.html)

6. APHIS Sends Final Rule on Phytos for Air Passenger Fruits/ Vegetables to OMB for Review

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has sent to the Office of Management and Budget for review a final rule that would require a phytosanitary certificate to accompany noncommercial consignments of fresh fruits and vegetables imported into the U.S. by air passengers. (APHIS final rule available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoReviewSearch;jsessionid=0a65171430d6a8ead1fab0944f80a623b345e6dab5ab.e38Nch4NbhuNa40LbN8Tb3aKa38Le6fznA5Pp7ftolbGmkTy)

7. APHIS Sends Final Rule on Export Certification Fees for Plants/ Products to OMB for Review

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has sent to OMB for review a final rule that would amend the user fee regulations by adjusting the fees charged for export certifications for plants and plant products. Among other things, this action would add a new user fee for export certificates for plants and plant products that an exporter obtains from a State or county cooperator. (APHIS final rule available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoReviewSearch;jsessionid=0a65171430d6a8ead1fab0944f80a623b345e6dab5ab.e38Nch4NbhuNa40LbN8Tb3aKa38Le6fznA5Pp7ftolbGmkTy)

8. DOD Final Rule Revises List of Least Developed Countries

The Department of Defense, General Services Administration, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration have published a final rule that, effective March 19, 2009, amends the list of Least Developed Countries that are designated countries under the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, in order to add Liberia and to remove Cape Verde. (DOD final rule, FR Pub 03/19/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5867.pdf)

9. FMC Announces March 25th Partially Open Meeting

The Federal Maritime Commission has announced that it will be holding a meeting that will be partially open to the public, on March 25, 2009 in Washington, D.C. Matters to be discussed in the open portion of the meeting include: (1) Passenger Vessel Financial Responsibility - Request of Commissioner Brennan and (2) FY 2008 Buy American Report to Congress.

(FMC notice, available at http://www.fmc.gov/home/March252009CommissionMeeting.asp)

10. USDA National Organic Standards Board to Meet May 4-6

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will meet May 4-6, 2009 in Washington, DC. NOSB committees will present recommendations to the full board for a vote concerning the use or prohibition of 13 petitioned substances for the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances, etc. (USDA notice, dated 03/18/09, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateU&navID=&page=Newsroom&resultType=Details&dDocName=STELPRDC5075839&dID=109507&wf=false&description=NationalOrganicStandardsBoardtoMeetMay4-6&topNav=Newsroom&leftNav=&rightNav1=&rightNav2=)

11. EC Adopts Regulations to Remove Non-Efficient Light Bulbs from Market

On March 18, 2009, the European Commission adopted two ecodesign regulations to improve the energy efficiency of household lamps and of office, street and industrial lighting products. Inefficient incandescent light bulbs will be progressively replaced by improved alternatives starting in 2009 and finishing at the end of 2012. (EC press release, dated 03/18/09, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/411&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)

12. Canada Signs Agreement with UAE to Promote Trade Opportunities

On March 18, 2009, Canada's Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway concluded a successful visit to the United Arab Emirates by signing an agreement on economic cooperation, trade and investment with the UAE's Minister of Economy. (Press release, dated 03/18/09, available at http://w01.international.gc.ca/minpub/Publication.aspx?isRedirect=True&publication_id=386944&language=E&docnumber=71)

13. 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):

CBP 1 Information Collection (FR Pub 03/16/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5608.pdf

CBP 2 Information Collection (FR Pub 03/16/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5609.pdf

CBP 3 Information Collection (FR Pub 03/16/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5611.pdf

CBP 4 Information Collection (FR Pub 03/16/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5615.pdf

FHWA Information Collection (FR Pub 03/16/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5574.pdf

APHIS Information Collection (FR Pub 03/16/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5623.pdf

TTB 1 Information Collection (FR Pub 03/16/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5605.pdf

TTB 2 Information Collection (FR Pub 03/16/09) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-5605.pdf